Final Reports

Smart Approved WaterMark is Australia’s water conservation label promoting products and services that help get the best use of, and value from, water.

HAL funding was utilised in 2011/12 to start the expansion of Smart WaterMark water efficiency accreditation to cover commercial products and services in the non residential sector, specifically across the irrigation, turf and nursery industries. The NY12007 project builds on this activity: updating and disseminating baseline water efficiency research and industry guidelines, and identifying and certifying water efficient technologies and practices for the Australian horticultural market.

Project NY10001 – Management of Technical, Research and Environmental Projects for the Nursery Industry 2010-2013 provided funding for the NGIA National Environmental & Technical Policy Manager (NETPM) Dr. Anthony Kachenko.

The NETPM ensured that the Australian nursery and garden industry had a mechanism in place to address key environmental and technical issues that impacted on its growth and sustainable development during the life of the project. This project was aligned with the Nursery Industry 2010–2015 Strategic Plan and the Nursery & Garden Industry Strategic Investment Plan 2012-2016 to ensure the Australian nursery and garden industry had the capacity to respond to challenges and identify growth opportunities.

This 2010-2013 project sought to provide new information on the reproductive biology and propagation systems of Australia’s iconic eucalypts. The progress made through this project has been significant in all areas of research undertaken and the additions to the current body of knowledge are numerous.

The long term viability of the Australian horticulture industry is partially dependent on the availability of quality leaders at both industry and private business levels. Many industries are unable to fund a specific program to develop their leaders, so in 2012 Horticulture Australia Limited funded an Across Industry Leadership Training Project that was given the working title “Horticulture – the Next Generation”.

The purpose of the program was to improve the business and leadership skills of horticulture managers to give them the tools to take a larger role in the future growth and development of their industries.

The broad aim of the proposal was to enhance levy payers’ ability to remain current withindustry developments, marketing activities and technical issues. Adoption of technology isimperative to the continued development of the nursery industry. NGIA has a target that1500 nursery levy payers will have the ability to access and read at least 4 copies of anindustry publication during the year. Industry surveyed levy payers during the developmentof an Industry Needs Assessment and identified that key areas of information seekingutilised the web as well as industry publications.

The key aspects required are:
· Information quality and relevance
· Timeliness of information
· Ease of implementation

The primary aim of this environmental investment audit was to provide a review of all research, development and extension (RD&E) projects with a predominant focus on environmental management funded by Horticulture Australia Limited (HAL) between 1 July 2005 and 30 November 2011. The audit was commissioned in order to document the level of investment in environmentally focussed RD&E for the seven year period. It will highlight the environmental management issues of greatest concern to the horticultural industry and identify gaps and future priorities in the environmental RD&E portfolio.

Consumer Public Relations was a critical part of the Nursery & Garden Industry marketing campaign during 2010 – 2011. While the basis of the campaign was directed towards Facebook and social media, PR was utilised to inform key media and to drive the messages in traditional avenues.

Biochar is a new, high-carbon soil amendment that has shown promise in improving soil properties and increasing yields in crops around the world. Biochar is created by heating organic biomass, such as chipped tree prunings, garden waste, chicken manure, rice husks and other agricultural by-products at high temperatures and with no oxygen. Preliminary research into biochar application to soil has found improvements to soil structure, fertiliser and water efficiency. Biochar increases soil carbon immediately after addition, and studies have estimated that biochar will remain in soil for hundreds of years.

The Nursery Industry Development Officer (IDO) Network was a key recommendation of the Industry Development Needs Assessment undertaken in 2008-9. The project has built on prior investment in industry extension activities, with improved reporting and monitoring of activities. The State Nursery & Garden Associations are subcontracted to Nursery & Garden Industry Australia (NGIA) to deliver industry development activities, which overcomes the issues of industry diversity and rationality.

The Nursery & Garden Industry undertook an innovative marketing campaign in 2011 based on the umbrella theme of “Improve Your Plant Life Balance” When a review of this project was undertaken the industry consultation group recommended that there needs to be greater focus on selling the program and key objectives of greening the urban environment to the industry and associated media via PR rather than consumer focussed events. It was identified by industry that the message needed to be conveyed to key influencers who are specifying the space allocated to green space in the urban environment.

This project NY11000 – Nursery Environmental & Technical Research, Development and Extension 11/12 consists of several environmental and technical research and development sub projects that address key environmental issues that impact on the sustainability of the Australian nursery and garden industry (NGI).

There are some existing official national policies on hazardous plants. The details and type of policies differ.  They have varying relevance for the Australian nursery industry.  
The identified hazardous plants taxa that cause concern in each of Australia, UK & USA are broadly similar but there are some different plants in each country, reflecting local natural species and species grown due to climate differences.
The research shows that these is a very small number of plant taxa that are known to cause genuine health problems in Australia. 

The Australian Nursery industry plays a critical role in providing products that contribute to Australia’s lifestyle and wellbeing.

The industry is diverse in production outcome and locality and as a result has skills and business processes that are world’s best practice in both technology development, and utilisation of resources, both human and natural.

The industry has reached this position as a result of investment over time by individuals and businesses through their own resources or as part of the funds provided by the nursery industry levy which have been matched by funds from the Australian federal Government.

This plan provides a structured guideline for investment over the next four years and has been developed in consultation with leading growers and levy payers from around Australia.

This book covers the control of the major pests and diseases that affect ornamental crops throughout Australia.

The Australian region of IPPS holds it's annual conference in a different state each year.  the Society's 25th conference was held at Wollongong from 24th - 27th April 1997.

Techniques to reduce nutrient leaching from pots.

Project NY11009 - Improvement and Development of the Nursery Production Farm Management System(Nursery Production FMS) 11/12 consist of several sub projects that aim to drive greater recognition of theNursery Production FMS as well as increase the adoption of Nursery Production FMS across the productionsector of the Australian nursery industry. The Nursery Production FMS includes the Nursery IndustryAccreditation Scheme, Australia (NIASA), EcoHort (Environmental Management System for the Australianproduction nursery industry) and BioSecure HACCP (On-farm biosecurity system for the Australianproduction nursery industry) programs.

The HAL supported project “Identification and evaluation of water conservation products and technologies for the Australian urban outdoor market” was set up to expand Smart WaterMark certification to the commercial nursery turf and irrigation sectors. The key aim of the project was to help industry identify best practice to operate efficiently.

Set up a NIDO office and promote the existence of a NIDO in 1998 and establish networks within the industry in NSW.

This report defines the outcomes, priorities and strategies for research and development in the nursery industry for the next 5 years (1996-2001).

Presentations at National Conference Perth 1997.

Report on the International Plant Propagators Sociey Australian Region Annual Conference, Melbourne May 1996.

This report describes the development of a quality management system certified to AS/NZS ISO 9002 in a wholesale nursery. 

This project brought together a team of leading research and extension workers in the water management field to develop Best practice Guidelines for industry.

Towards the end of 1993, NIAA (in conjunction with a major Australian hire company) formulated and dispatched a questionnaire seeking information on the interest of industry in adopting a national standard nursery trolley system.