turf producers turf producers
The aim of Turf Australia’s R&D Strategic Investment Plan is to drive growth and sustainability of the Australian turf industry
Jo, Charlie and Anthony Muscat Turf Australia will(Turf work with Australia at the newly chairman) created Horticulture the Turf Australia Field Innovation Australia Limited to Day held Greenereffective clarify andatdevelop Lawn Supplies strategies for national turf R&D and marketing plans
HAL becomes In early October the Federal Government announced the formation of Horticulture Innovation Australia Limited to replace Horticulture Australia Ltd. Turf Australia’s business and industry development manager Richard Stephens looks at the new entity and what it will mean for the turf industry.
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HIAL
n 7 October 2014 Federal Minister for Agriculture Barnaby Joyce announced the registration of Horticulture Innovation Australia Limited (HIAL) as the new research, development and marketing body to support Australia’s $9.5 billion horticulture industry. The establishment of HIAL followed a recent independent report into the performance of Horticulture Australia Limited (HAL) which recommended a change to a new, grower-owned research and development company. It also followed the start of a Senate Inquiry into industry structures and systems governing the imposition of and disbursement of marketing and research and development levies in the agricultural sector. HIAL will be led by five board members from the old HAL board plus four new board members appointed by the Federal Government. HIAL will be grower owned and will incorporate two research and development (R&D) investment pools: l Pool 1 – for industry specific levy funds, such as turf; and l Pool 2 – for strategic co-investments, comprising of a series of individual investments funds based around key medium- to long-term R&D programmes. A potential individual investment fund relevant to the turf and nursery industries could be ‘Greener Cities’. The current government matched funding for industry R&D levy funds, up to 0.5 per cent of the Gross Value of Product (GVP), will be maintained for each industry. Matched Voluntary Contribution (VC) funding will be replaced by ‘strategic co-investments’ where contributions from industry, government,
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commercial and academia may be eligible for matched funding if they are invested in a nominated strategic fund from Pool 2. HIAL will create new industry advisory mechanisms to replace the previous Industry Advisory Committee (IAC) structure. It is anticipated that the advisory mechanisms for Pool 1 will include a cross section of relevant industry stakeholders, including grower representative bodies, to advise on matters such as priorities, communications, investment strategies and the like. The Pool 2 strategic co-investments are likely to be guided by expert steering panels relevant to the individual funds. As part of becoming a grower-owned organisation, HIAL will establish a membership register that will comprise growers and other parties that participate in Australia’s horticulture sector. This is an important next step in developing a mechanism by which these members can (if eligible) activate their voting rights. It is anticipated that larger growers, who pay more levy, will have increased HIA voting rights. In addition to developing a grower register, HIAL may also consider developing regionally based consultations that would be held across all key growing areas in all states and territories on a regular basis. Despite the demise of HAL and the creation of HIAL, Turf Australia will continue to represent the interests of turf growers and the industry as a whole. Turf Australia will work with HIAL to clarify and develop effective strategies for national turf R&D and marketing strategies as well as ensuring appropriate governance and reporting arrangements. The Turf Australia Board has already met with the Nursery and Garden Industry Australia Board and initiated a process of developing joint initiatives under the ‘Living Green’ banner. One area where we may be able to collaborate is in the development of best practice or accreditation that covers both the production of turf and nursery plants as well as their