The Australian vegetable sector faces challenges similar to those of New Zealand, but approaches solutions with the advantage of a larger sector and business sizes. This observation follows a five-day tour of Queensland, organized by Vegetables NZ, which included visits to various agricultural operations and the Hort Connections conference.
During the tour, Australian growers consistently highlighted key challenges: Producing the best crops possible, adapting to changing consumer preferences, and maintaining business viability. Despite these challenges, the growers expressed optimism for the future, recognizing the need to continuously adapt, a necessity that has always been part of their industry.
The tour included visits to major growing regions, such as Gatton, and interactions with operations like Mulgowie Farming Company, Koala Farms, and Kalfresh Vegetables. These businesses are notable for their vertical integration, encompassing fields, packhouses, and in some cases, nurseries. This scale allows them to maintain high levels of control over the production process.
A common theme among these operations is a focus on soil and plant health, often adopting practices with minimal environmental impact. Mulgowie, for example, has shifted away from chemical reliance since the 1990s and employs practices like reduced tillage and cover cropping to enhance soil health and crop yields. Koala Farms adopts similar soil health practices, rotating crops strategically to maintain soil vitality.
Kalfresh emphasizes marketing adaptability, processing, and packing carrots in various forms to meet consumer demand. This adaptability is facilitated by modern technology, such as robotics, which helps address labor costs and improve efficiency.
The tour also included a visit to the Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries' Gatton research station and Metagen, a biostimulant producer. A highlight was the demonstration of advanced agricultural robotics, such as the ecorobotix ARA sprayer, part of the VegMech initiative, which seeks to implement on-farm technologies through grower-funded research.
At the Annual Vegetable Industry Seminar, growers like James Terry shared experiences with automation, specifically the FarmDroid used for seeding and weeding, which has increased yields and reduced chemical use.
While technological advancements present growth opportunities, the overarching challenge for the Australian vegetable sector is consumer consumption. Research shows Australians average only 1.8 servings of vegetables per day. Initiatives like the 'Plus One Serve' program aim to increase this consumption, offering substantial economic benefits and health care cost savings, highlighting an area of potential growth for producers.
The tour emphasized the multi-faceted challenges and innovations within the sector, underscoring the need for continued adaptation and consumer engagement to secure its future.
For more information:
Vegetables NZ
Tel: +64 21 021 62021
Email: [email protected]
www.freshvegetables.co.nz