CROP PROTECTION
Data-driven crop protection
Access to essential crop protection tools is becoming more complex for Australian growers, with key chemicals facing tightening regulations and broader market scrutiny.
A project by Hort Innovation is for the first time bringing together chemical expertise from regulators, registrants, industry and retailers to better understand the issues and drivers that impact Australian growers.
Through this project, Hort Innovation has engaged Applebox Insights to design a new intelligence framework that will help industry better understand where crop protectants are at risk and what solutions may be available.
This framework will help industry leaders and partners visualise vulnerabilities and identify priority areas for future R&D investment. Keeping growers central to the project, it has kicked off with a co-design workshop to ensure the system reflects real-world challenges on farm.
Simon Andreoli, macadamia grower, Four Winds Plantation said access to effective crop protection tools is essential for managing macadamia orchards and protecting crop quality and yields:
“In macadamias, we’re managing orchards over a long season and often with limited options for some pests and diseases. If key products become restricted or harder to access, that can have a real impact on how we protect our crop, manage quality and control costs. Better visibility of what’s coming, whether that’s risks to existing products or potential new alternatives, will make a big difference in helping growers plan ahead and stay productive.”
At Hort Innovation, everything we do is built on our vision to create a prosperous and sustainable Australian horticulture industry built on innovation.
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