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$13 million for fruit fly research. 5/2/2021 The Australian Government has invested $6.5 million in the Strengthening Australia’s Fruit Fly System Research Program to support national approach to fruit fly management, with matching funding from the states and territories. Read more.
Victorian hort growers concerned about fruit fly. 3/2/2021 According to the Cobram and District Fruit Growers Association (CDFGA), the Victorian government's plan to abandon funding to support the management of Queensland fruit fly (Qfly) will have a catastrophic impact. However, Agriculture Victoria says they remain committed to national management efforts. Read more in Good Fruit & Vegetables.
Avocado pic the latest internet debate subject. 2/2/2021 Well, there’s been the dress (blue or gold), the audio (Laurel or Yanny) but the latest online debate is about whether an avocado photo includes the seed or not. We’re not sure the pic from an Aldi Facebook group has gone global yet though. Check it out at Gold 104.3 or 9Honey.
HARPS Version 2.0: more than 70 submissions. 2/2/2021 The HARPS Version 2.0 Public Consultation feedback period has now closed. HARPS received more than 70 submissions, including from Avocados Australia and also from growers alerted to the consultation via Guacamole. The HARPS Technical and Retailer Committees will now review all submissions.
WA: new desalination project. 2/2/2021 The Western Australian Government’s new Watersmart Farms project seeks to optimise desalinisation technology and its application in the Wheatbelt and Great Southern regions. Agronomy and other agribusiness activities are covered. Read more.
Helping Aussie kids explore food and mood. 28/1/2021 Hort Innovation’s Phenomenom project has launched a free innovative toolkit for schools and families, called The Good Mood Food Special. Read more.
New x-ray scanning at borders for biosecurity threats. 28/1/2021 The Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment can now automatically detect fruit, vegetables, meat, seafood and plant material at the border. 3D x-ray units at the Melbourne airport and the Melbourne and Sydney mail gateway centres are deployed with the world’s first biosecurity risk auto-detection algorithms, designed to target Australia’s highest biosecurity risks. Read more.
Coles Nurture Fund round open. 28/1/2021 Coles has opened a new round of the Coles Nurture Fund to provide grants of up to $500,000 for small and medium sized businesses to develop new products, technologies and processes. Businesses with innovative ideas, fewer than 50 full time employees and turnover of less than $25 million in annual revenue are eligible to apply. Applications close 19 March. Read more.
Queensland: free industry training for farm employers. 27/1/2021 The Queensland Government has partnered with SafeFarm to provide free access for Queensland agricultural businesses to online training and safety induction programs. The short, sharp online programs are typically delivered prior to beginning work on-site. The programs are free until 31 March. More information can be found at safefarm.com.au/qcr or call 07 3040 3313.
Fair Farms adds new certification body. 27/1/2021 Fair Farms has announced the addition of a second certification body, SGS. SGS is the world’s leading inspection, verification, testing and certification company and has the ability to deliver all GFSI standards, quality management systems, product testing and verification in ethical compliance. Read more about Fair Farms here.
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