Transforming avocado production

The Australian horticulture industry is embarking on a transformative journey through the Hort Frontiers project Growing Horticulture Through Protected Cropping Innovation (AS23001). This $52 million initiative, led by Applied Horticultural Research (AHR) and delivered through Hort Innovation, aims to revolutionise protected cropping by integrating advanced automation technologies to address critical workforce challenges and enhance productivity.

Costa Group is a key partner in this project. With significant investments and active participation, Costa is at the forefront of adopting innovative practices to advance the avocado industry.

Cormac te Kloot, Costa Group's General Manager for Avocados, emphasised the project's impact

“This program will advance the avocado industry’s approach towards sustainability, agronomy, automation, energy usage, and improving staff skills and management,” Cormac said

The project has been designed to address key opportunities identified in the Australian Protected Cropping Strategy 2021-2030. By bringing together researchers, growers, and industry specialists, the project focuses on sustainability, agronomy, automation, energy efficiency and workforce development.

Read the full article, as published in ‘Talking avocados’ here