A $2,040,000 Australian Government grant will give horticultural exporters the upper hand with a detailed study of trends in 13 overseas markets. The Hort Innovation project will focus on what international customers want across 20 product categories of fruits, vegetables, and nuts.
Minister for Agriculture and Northern Australia David Littleproud said this grant would help industry identify opportunities and develop trade expansion plans in 13 overseas markets.
"This work will help Australia's fastest growing agricultural sector realise its export potential and take advantage of ongoing negotiations of free trade agreements and efforts to improve market access," Minister Littleproud said.
"Market intelligence has been identified as the number one priority by export-focused industries and will enable growers to deliver exactly what the customer wants - thanks to an in-depth level of information like that gathered by importers and retailers.
"The funding comes hot on the heels of new market access opportunities for horticulture delivered through the interim free trade agreement with India.
"This agreement will see this see preferential access and lower tariffs delivered for a range of products including oranges and mandarins, avocados, broad beans, kidney and adzuki beans, cherries, macadamias, cashews, shelled pistachios, hazelnuts, onions, blueberries, raspberries, blackberries apricots and strawberries."
Hort Innovation CEO Matt Brand said in-depth consumer and competitor intelligence for each individual market will better position the Australian horticultural industry to negotiate with a stronger understanding of usage and attitudes to assist the products we are wanting to sell in these markets.
"We will work with industry reference groups to workshop and co-create market development plans to achieve each industry's trade goals," Mr Brand said.
"The aim is whole-of-industry trade expansion based on diversified risk, premium returns and consumer led-driven strategies."
The 13 export markets include Japan, Korea, Indonesia, the United States, Singapore, Malaysia, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Vietnam, India and the United Kingdom.
Fast facts
- Horticultural categories to benefit from the ATMAC grant include almonds, apples, pears, avocado, blueberries, cherries, citrus, dried grapes, lychees, macadamia, mangos, melons, olives, onions, potato, raspberries and blackberries, strawberries, summer fruit, sweet potato, table grapes and vegetables.
- Horticulture products will also benefit from a $550,000 grant promoting premium Australian food and wine exports to South Korea and South-East Asia.
- $19.0 million in grant funding has been committed through ATMAC, a component of the Australian Government's Agri-Business Expansion Initiative (ABEI).
- The Government has invested $85.9 million through ABEI to help Australia's agriculture, forestry and fisheries industries diversify and expand their export markets.
