About Citrus Australia

Citrus Australia Ltd is the recognised peak industry body representing the nation’s commercial citrus growers.

Established in 2008 as a non-profit company limited by guarantee following a decision by growers across the country to reform the old industry body, Citrus Australia commenced very modestly with an enthusiastic skills based board, 11 voluntary grower members, and a small team based in Mildura, Victoria.

Today, we are supported by over 300 grower and affiliate members and an expanded Citrus Australia team that provide vital services to the industry.

What are we doing for the industry?

Citrus Australia is re-energising the Australian citrus industry by increasing demand and value. We are doing this by focusing on:

Public Affairs: actively lobbying on issues such as water; export market access and development; biosecurity and quarantine; industrial relations; and truth in labelling.

Market access, development and promotion: breaking down barriers to export markets; driving the Australian Citrus Quality Standards for the whole of industry; and developing more effective export promotion programs.

Information: providing information on plantings, crop forecasts and weekly market distribution through InfoCitrus.

Communication: Through the popular industry magazine Australian Citrus News; e-newsletters; at regional events; and at our national conferences.

Biosecurity/plant health: biosecurity plans, awareness posters, increased surveillance.

R&D Coordination: Participation in R&D Planning, advisory mechanisms  and fostering R&D networks.

Citrus Australia 3 Year Strategy 2020-2022

Our Purpose

Citrus Australia is theprescribed peak industry body (PIB) for the Australian citrus industry. To help our growers and our industry succeed, we focus on core activities and are guided by values that underpin everything we do.

Activities

Advocacy

We identify and prioritise the issues of our members and advocate on behalf of growers to ensure their needs are heard and understood by decision makers.

As a peak industry body, we have an important facilitation role to play in driving innovation, finding common purpose and protecting industry’s investment.

Our consultation through regional advisory groups, leadership groups (export, domestic, variety and juice committees), regional and national forums ensure Citrus Australia is informed on issues important to industry.

Citrus Australia develops and maintains national and international networks; we can leverage relationships in citrus growing, packing, marketing and research here and around the world. We have strong relationships with other industry bodies and robust a working relationships with state and federal governments.

We provide expert advice to Hort Innovation to ensure research and development (R&D) is targeted to support priority issues raised by industry. Through our consultation and networks we prosecute the industry strategic investment plan (Hort Innovation) in an efficient and effective way that achieves results for industry.

The citrus industry is geographically diverse; there are complexities in domestic, export and juice markets. Citrus Australia recognises this and in our advocacy work we push for the best result for all Australian growers.

Service Provision

We identify industry needs and deliver projects that produce outstanding results for growers using our skills, resources and credibility as an organisation.

Over the past ten years, we’ve established a proven track record of service provision that’s supported the growing success of the Australian citrus industry.

Our driven and dedicated team incorporates a wide range of skill-sets and expertise, including:

• Advocacy and public affairs;
• Market development;
• Communications;
• Biosecurity; and
• Information

These technical skills are complemented by our uniquely valuable position in Australian horticulture: we connect growers, industry members and other organisations using our far-reaching networks around the country.

Statutory Roles

We are the prescribed peak industry body for the Australian citrus industry, which includes statutory responsibilities on behalf of our sector.

We advocate for industry in the event of an exotic pest incursion. Citrus Australia represents all growers in determining the technical and financial feasibility of eradication of exotic pests.

We are responsible for establishing the case for new levies paid by Australian citrus growers.

Achieving Our Activities

Service Delivery

Citrus Australia Ltd is a not for profit company limited by guarantee.

We exist to serve our members through a range of activities and services. To deliver services Citrus Australia has developed a range of revenue streams:

• Membership: Grower and Affiliate categories
• Project management: competitive tenders from funding bodies such as Hort Innovation, Plant Health Australia, Department of Agriculture and water resources and other government grants and schemes as they arise
• Fee for service; where a market failure leads to opportunity to provide a specific service to a defined recipient
• Corporate partners
• Event management
• Advertising

Profits achieved are invested in to the company to ensure sustainable delivery of services to members.

Our Values

Governance: We will employ good governance in all facets of our business from board level to service delivery.

Integrity: We will be approachable, open, honest, accountable and ethical in all business practices.

Respect: We will be considerate and mindful of the opinions and values of others, and will recognise and support all stakeholders.

Leadership: We will continue to be at the forefront of the industry through teamwork and professionalism, and will foster a culture of courage and accountability at all times.

Innovation: We will encourage and embrace change; we will adapt and evolve and seek out change at every opportunity.

About Our Board

To ensure our focus is on improving results for all growers around Australia Citrus Australia’s board is skills based. The board comprises a diverse mix of grower members and independent directors, each chosen for their skill set.

Objectives

For Industry

To assist industry to grow export value to $500 million by 2022 through market development activity; investigate market opportunities; strategic use of market access resources

To protect industry from exotic pests and diseases and advocate for industry in the event of an incursion

To advocate for effective use of industry levies; consult with industry; when appropriate act on behalf of industry to adjust existing or strike new levies

To foster an informed industry through effective communication

For Members

To provide resources for members that foster growth, profitability and sustainability of their businesses

To be an advocate on issues of importance to members businesses and livelihoods

To convey trends and highlight opportunities in all facets of citrus production and marketing

To provide opportunity for personal growth, leadership and network building

To do the work individual businesses cannot do in driving biosecurity, labour, energy, water and other policies

For Our Company

To develop a team of conscientious, industry minded professionals

To lead the horticulture industry in best management

To provide opportunity for growth, empowerment and excellence

Priority Objectives

Market development

Advocacy: develop and deliver citrus market access policy that informs government; leverage Citrus Australia’s position to influence policy makers; grow networks of political advisors and key department staff; develop long term strategies for industry to seek opportunity and offset risk in exports; engage with high level retail management to drive awareness of industry issues

Services: ensure appropriate levels of professional staff are engaged and enabled to provide services; deliver outcomes of project work; provide advice to government agencies on priorities for citrus market access; develop networks and take lead positions in horticulture market access issues; identify opportunities for market access improvements; engage with retail category managers to ensure industry priorities and programs are engaged; communicate opportunities and threats to industry at forums and through Citrus Australia communication channels ; inform Citrus Australia board and management of risks and appropriate strategies

Membership: provide personal assistance to members with market access issues; provide deeper level analysis of market access opportunities and threats

Biosecurity            

Advocacy: lead the horticulture industry to achieve improved biosecurity outcomes; collaborate with likeminded horticulture industry bodies to achieve improved biosecurity outcomes; develop and deliver citrus biosecurity policy that informs government; leverage Citrus Australia’s position to influence policy makers; grow networks of political advisors and key department staff;

Services: ensure appropriate professional staff are engaged and enabled to provide services; deliver outcomes of project work; identify weakness and opportunities; develop surveillance strategies for industry; inform Citrus Australia board and management of risks and appropriate strategies; delver workshops and presentations at forums to increase biosecurity awareness and action

Membership: provide personal service to members with biosecurity queries;

Communications  

Advocacy: use networks to communicate Citrus Australia policy; use various means to consult with industry including person to person, groups, committees, forums, surveys;  ; leverage Citrus Australia’s position to influence policy makers; grow networks of political advisors and key department staff; inform industry of exotic pest incursions; engage industry in levy consultation

Services: ensure appropriate professional staff are engaged and enabled to provide services; deliver outcomes of projects; provide a range of ways to deliver/access information from Citrus Australia; communicate industry R&D outcomes via various mediums

Membership: provide opportunities for members to engage with Citrus Australia; highlight member achievements; seek opportunities to provide deeper analysis for members through networks and partnerships

Information            

Advocacy: develop information on industry’s value to rural and regional Australia; through an informed Citrus Australia board and management develop and deliver policies that improve profitability and sustainability

Services: ensure appropriate professional staff are engaged and enabled to provide services; deliver outcomes of projects;

Membership: collate data and reports from across Citrus Australia business into a members only report; seek opportunities to provide deeper analysis for members through networks and partnerships

Advocacy               

Membership: ensure appropriate professional staff are engaged and enabled to provide services consult with industry through person to person, groups, committees, forums, surveys; communicate policy platforms developed through consultation

Regional priorities: Each year Citrus Australia’s Regional Advisory Committees (RAC) provide regional priorities for Citrus Australia board and management to address through advocacy and service delivery. These are captured in a separate annual format and inform the agenda for the years RAC meetings, workshops and regional forums.