To establish direct grower interaction and ensure that the agrichemical needs of the vegetable sector are accurately recorded and understood, AUSVEG commenced coordination of the project Vegetable Agrichemical Pest Management Needs and Priorities (VG16060), a strategic levy investment under the Hort Innovation Vegetable Fund. View the project fact sheet here.

The project’s objectives were to coordinate vegetable industry agrichemical pest needs by identifying and prioritising potential gaps through the implementation of an effective prioritisation process for the industry.

This project was coordinated by Patrick Arratia. A component of Patrick’s role was to capture direct input from growers relating to individual crop commodities. This was achieved on a regional basis in conjunction with the existing Strategic Agrichemical Review Process (SARP) and regional Industry Development Officers (IDOs).

Priority agrichemical gaps identified in this three-year project informed industry actions at the annual AgChem Collaborative Forum, assisted in updating industry SARPs and identified potential solutions to address these gaps.

The successful rollout of this project resulted in an effective agrichemical prioritisation process for the vegetable industry through a high level of industry engagement and input, which will direct R&D funding for crop protection purposes.

This project has been funded by Hort Innovation, using the research and development levies listed below and contributions from the Australian Government. Hort Innovation is the grower-owned, not-for-profit research and development corporation for Australian horticulture.

• Vegetable Fund