AU: Tender released for 'Growing horticulture through protected cropping innovation'

Hort Frontiers' Growing horticulture through protected cropping innovation (AS23001)' tender has been released by Hort Innovation. This program represents one of the biggest government investments into RD&E in PC that the sector has seen, with significant funding available over seven years. The program has five themes: Sustainability, Advanced Agronomy, Market Development and Insights, Attracting and Retaining People, and Identification, Evaluation, and Adoption of Technology. In addition, the continuation and growth of the outstanding PC mapping project (undertaken with UNE) will form part of our tender.

The program is based on a co-investment model and calls for consortia tenders. PCA is in discussions with several organizations, including WSU, QAAFI, Applied Horticultural Research, and UNE, and will join each of their tenders as a partner. PCA's involvement will be specifically focused on communication, engagement, education and training, and extension.

PCA needs to contribute financially in order to form part of any consortia tender. As an industry association, this co-contribution will be made up of a modest cash value and demonstrated value attributed through our existing activity in RD&E in the sector.

PCA is seeking additional support from members and partners. "Should you have any commercial interest in the program and its outcomes and wish to support our tender, we invite you to make contact with us very soon. The tender submission deadline is in early November," the team says.