New Strategic Investment Plan to boost export growth

New Strategic Investment Plan to boost export growth

6-July-2017

The new five-year Strategic Investment Plan (SIP) for the citrus industry is expected to create $140.1 million in value from $22.7m in levies over the next five years.

This value will in part be created by growing export value from $300m to $400m by 2021 – a key performance indicator under the plan.

Hort Innovation developed the SIP in close partnership with growers and other industry stakeholders, and is thankful to all those who have contributed their time and ideas.

Hort Innovation said the SIP lays the foundation for decision making in levy investments and represents the balanced interest of the industry.

It will help guide Hort Innovation’s management of investment programs for the citrus industry for the next five years and ensure levy investment decisions align with industry priorities.

Under the plan, by 2021 the Australian citrus industry will have:

• Increased revenue from export markets ($400 million target) compared with 2016 levels
• Complied fully with all export protocols
• Enhanced its well-developed production forecasting system
• Reduced overall chemical residue load on all fruits compared with 2016, and have met or exceeded all market-based MRLs
• Enhanced biosecurity processes and protocols against existing and potential new pests and diseases
• Put in place and trialled a crisis management plan for citrus
• Improved the consistency of product quality

New citrus levy rates were introduced from July 1, 2016. Growers now pay an orange levy rate of $4.25 per tonne (or 8.5 cents per box) while the levy rate on other citrus is $3.50 per tonne (or 7 cents per box).

Hort Innovation manages the proportion of citrus levy funds that is directed to the investment in the citrus R&D (orange and other citrus) and orange industry marketing program.

For a full copy of the plan, visit the citrus page of the Hort Innovation website at www.horticulture.com.au/grower-focus/citrus/