THE banana industry will get an injection of know-how with the securing of $160,000 over three years for Nuffield Scholarships.
Horticulture Innovation Australia (HIA) has pledged the money to support the development of future banana industry leaders though participation in the Nuffield Australia Farming Scholars program.
HIA chief executive officer John Lloyd said banana growers serve one of the largest fruit growing sectors in Australia and are vital economic contributors to rural communities in banana growing areas.
“It is important that the banana industry maintains a consistent and quality supply of Australian bananas to meet consumer demand while continuing to increase its productivity gains,” he said.
“Through investment in the Nuffield Australia Scholarship program, Hort Innovation will help to support the Australian banana industry by identifying future leaders and providing them with the opportunity to identify world best-practice research, development and management techniques, with the view of applying them here in Australia.”
The funds are already being put to use with far north Queensland organic banana farmer Matthew Abbott taking up a 2016 scholarship to study organic farming techniques.
Mr Abbott will take a particular focus on sustainable practices.
He will also look at the various ways global industries manage diseases such as fusarium (TR4), strategies for marketing bananas, category diversification and export markets.
A further two scholars will be supported in 2017 and 2018.
Mr Abbott will attend the 2016 Contemporary Scholars Conference in Cavan, Ireland next month.
He will also participate in a Global Focus Program, a six-week group study tour across Asia, Europe, North and South America where he will investigate organic farming, looking at banana varieties and systems to manage Panama disease.
HIA is also supporting several other Nuffield scholars undertaking studies across a range of horticultural sectors including cut flowers, fruit and vegetables.
Meanwhile, the Australian Banana Growers’ Council (ABGC) has concluded another unsuccessful round of talks over a proposed banana industry buyout of the North Queensland farm infested with plant disease Panama Tropical Race 4 (TR4)
The industry’s peak body said it’s now time to focus on other biosecurity options.
An additional round of discussions was held this month with the farm’s owners after the Australian Government provided funding to add to an initial banana industry buyout proposal made in January.
ABGC chair Doug Phillips said talks with the owners of the 166-hectare Tully Valley farm had again ended without agreement, the renewed proposal had lapsed and the banana industry must now continue its work on other measures directed at containing TR4.
“The ABGC has put every effort into progressing discussions on a buyout that would allow the closure of the farm’s operations as one way of reducing the risk of TR4 spreading,” Mr Phillips said.
“It’s time to acknowledge the buyout option has been fully discussed, we accept the outcome and respect the views of all parties associated with the talks and the rights of the farm’s owners to continue farming bananas under the quarantine protocols that are in place.
“The industry now needs to focus on assisting with other achievable options in responding to the TR4 outbreak such as on-farm biosecurity measures, surveillance and containment strategies.”
March 3 will mark one year since TR4 was detected in North Queensland on the one Tully Valley banana farm.
