In this column, VegNET – Victoria (North, West and South-East regions) Regional Development Officer Danielle Park discusses the 2022 R&D Adoption award, which will be handed out at the AUSVEG VIC Awards for Excellence. Meanwhile, it has been one year since the Werribee native vegetation insectaries trial started with early results now available to industry.

Seeking nominations for Victoria’s R&D adoption champions

Victoria’s vegetable industry is both innovative and resilient, as highlighted by the challenges faced over the past couple of years. It works to meet consumer demand in both domestic and international markets despite these challenges, driven by the passion of its growers to supply high quality produce.

In recognition of the innovation, nominations are being sought for the upcoming 2022 R&D Adoption Award at the AUSVEG VIC Awards for Excellence. This award aims to highlight how Victoria’s growers are benefiting from R&D outcomes on-farm – whether it’s pre-harvest, post-harvest or sharing key findings with the wider industry.

The R&D Adoption and Industry Impact award sits alongside the coveted Grower of the Year category as part of the annual AUSVEG VIC Awards for Excellence.

Hort Innovation works with industry to invest the vegetable levy and Australian Government contributions into R&D initiatives to help growers be as productive and profitable as possible through the Hort Innovation Vegetable Fund.

The award also provides an opportunity to highlight the role that R&D plays in vegetable production.

Please contact Danielle Park on 0432 324 822 or email danielle.park@ausveg.com.au if you have someone you’d like to nominate for this year’s award.

A video of the highlights from the 2021 AUSVEG VIC Awards for Excellence, including the announcement of the R&D Adoption and Industry Impact award winner, is available here. East Gippsland Vegetable Innovation Days 2020 received the R&D Adoption and Industry Impact Award at the 2021 AUSVEG VIC Awards for Excellence.

Stephen Moore inspects establishment of the native insectariums in December 2021.

Werribee native vegetation insectaries trial

Over the past 12 months in Werribee South, Victorian vegetable growers have been trialling native vegetation insectaries on their farms to boost beneficial insect activity and better manage pests, prevent weeds, and reduce soil erosion.

Planted in autumn 2021, the Werribee native vegetation insectaries trials hoped to produce a range of benefits:

• Diversity and abundance of beneficial insects.
• Increased habitat and connectivity that better support native biodiversity.
• Reduced likelihood of harbouring pests and diseases that can affect crops.
• Reduced weed growth and maintenance.
• Improved soil structure, particularly on embankments, and reduced soil erosion.
• Longer flower windows and reduced water requirements.

AAA Farms and Mason Fresh Produce worked closely with local agronomist Stephen Moore from E.E. Muir & Sons and Karen Thomas from the Port Phillip and Westernport Catchment Management Authority to design the site, source plants, and organise the plantings.

VegNET – Victoria (Northern, Western and South-Eastern) helped to facilitate discussions to kick off the trial back in 2019 and has since been instrumental in communicating progress and results back to industry.

A published case study outlines the trial development, some early results and next steps. It also provides some practical tips for vegetable growers to set up an insectary on their farm. The case study can be found here.

A workshop involving an inspection of the native vegetation insectaries is planned for autumn 2022. If you would be interested to learn more, please contact Danielle Park on the details below.

Find out more

Please contact VegNET – Victoria (North, West and South-East regions) Regional Development Officer Danielle Park on 0432 324 822 or email danielle.park@ausveg.com.au.

VegNET 3.0 is a strategic levy investment under the Hort Innovation Vegetable Fund.

This project has been funded by Hort Innovation using the vegetable research and development levy and contributions from the Australian Government.

Project Number: VG21000

Cover image: Hover fly identified in native vegetation insectariums in December 2021.