The Palaszczuk Government has welcomed an industry-led plan to grow long-term resilience in the state's prospering horticulture industry.
Minister for Agricultural Industry Development and Fisheries and Minister for Rural Communities Mark Furner said Future Fields, a 10-year plan developed by the horticulture industry and guided by Growcom, was an important initiative to securing the sector's sustainable, long-term growth.
"Queensland's resilient and committed horticulture industry is on track to contribute almost $3 billion in gross value of production for the 2021-2022 season, the second largest season on record," Mr Furner said.
"The Queensland Government recognises the importance of future-proofing this passionate sector from challenges such as climate change, the COVID-19 pandemic, and disruption to global supply chains.
"That is why Department of Agriculture and Fisheries (DAF) has already invested $100,000 to support the visionary Future Fields plan and its current strategy priorities of boosting biosecurity, streamlining compliance, growing new foods, and adopting innovation.
"Work already done has broken down barriers and strengthened shared goals along the supply chain and DAF will continue to support Future Fields and Growcom's efforts to grow the horticulture industry to reach its full potential."
Growcom Acting CEO Richard Shannon said Future Fields was about stakeholders along the fresh produce supply chain coming together to take ownership and responsibility.
"Many of the big, intractable challenges we face as an industry are entirely within our power to address," Mr Shannon said.
"Accordingly, Future Fields is creating a space for collaboration that would not ordinarily exist and gives all with a stake in our industry the opportunity to contribute and take action to make a real difference.
"For example, key to the plan's success have been contributions from a diverse group of Future Fields Leaders, who have come together from across the supply chain to champion and carry the strategy through its development and implementation.
"Growcom welcomes the State Government's enthusiastic support of Future Fields and looks forward to our ongoing, productive relationship with DAF."
Mr Furner said Future Fields was an excellent example of cross-sector collaboration to harness the strengths of all stakeholders.
"Growcom's impressive efforts in pulling together more than 300 stakeholders stretching from Mareeba to Stanthorpe to help develop Future Fields has provided a blueprint for other industries looking to secure their future," Mr Furner said.
"Their holistic approach to involve all industry sectors to provide strategic direction for the industry and grow leadership capability perfectly positions Future Fields to create viable solutions to the industry's biggest challenges.
"Future Fields is something the whole industry can be proud of, and I congratulate all involved in developing this creative, innovative, and successful example of collaboration across sectors."
Download a copy of the Future Fields plan and learn more at www.futurefields.info.
