Two new projects secured by Avocados Australia will help support the industry’s growing export efforts.

Avocados Australia CEO John Tyas said the two Australian Government Package Assisting Small Exporter (PASE) grants would help streamline the registration process for protocol markets, and provide specific information for those seeking to access the Japanese and New Zealand markets.

“Export represents less than 5% of our production at the moment, but global pandemics aside, we fully expect to see a growing interest in coming years,” Mr Tyas said.

The first of the two projects involves the adaptation of an online export registration system for use by the avocado industry.

“At the moment, growers and packhouses register for exports to protocol markets with Avocados Australia via a time-consuming process of completing and scanning paperwork,” Mr Tyas said.

“Adapting the existing Australian Table Grape Association (AGTA) online system will make that system more efficient.”

Mr Tyas said the project would include a training program for current and potential avocado exporters on how to use the online system.

This project will deliver improvements to the current export registration process by providing:

• an online registration, mapping and phytosanitary data recording platform
• an improved, consistent approach for generating and collecting map information to enable traceability of avocados from the tree to the table, that complies with the current export requirements for protocol markets
• an improved, consistent approach for documenting and collecting phytosanitary data (such as information related to pests, diseases and treatments) that complies with the current export requirements for protocol markets.

The ATGA in conjunction with Avocados Australia will provide on-going support for the platform of on-line registration, mapping and phytosanitary data collection support to small exporters to complete the process each year.

Mr Tyas said the second PASE project would allow Avocados Australia to develop two new modules within the Best Practice Resource, to provide clear guidance to export capable growers and packhouses with regard to exporting to Japan and New Zealand.

“We will be adding information such as registration requirements, the export process, online registration system, maximum residue limits, export packing requirements, and inspections and audits,” he said.

The Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment’s PASE grants are designed to support small exporters overcome the barriers they face when exporting.