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Citrus research keeps export doors open

22 May 2009

With the start of the 2009 SA citrus season imminent, there's good news for the industry, which has agreed to support the continuation of critical research aimed at keeping export doors open.

Following a reduction in available funds from the national citrus levy, the SA Citrus Industry Development Board and industry groups have banded together to secure almost $217,000 in funding to support SARDI's Food Innovation and Value Chain program, which is designed to reduce and prevent citrus decay.

Agriculture, Food and Fisheries Minister, Paul Caica congratulated the Board and industry groups for backing the ongoing research by the SARDI program.

"SARDI's citrus post-harvest unit is acknowledged as Australia's leader, with their expertise and knowledge recognised world-wide,' Mr Caica says.

"The funding secured by industry will focus on new treatments to control peel rots that can impact on exports, and will therefore help meet increased requirements for food safety."

For the past five years, the citrus industry has supported a national, co-ordinated citrus post-harvest program run by SARDI's Dr. Peter Taverner.

Minister Caica says Dr Taverner's program has provided ongoing technical advice and practical research to assist packers and marketers satisfy the needs of global retailer chains and consumers.

"The emphasis on fresh citrus exports, worth $165 million a year, has meant that advice and techniques developed from SARDI's research program are critical to Australia's citrus industry.

Chairman of the SA Citrus Industry Development Board, Mr. Peter Walker, says the funding will also support a valuable post-harvest technical advisory service and will include workshops, the Packer newsletter, website and information packages.

"Dr Taverner's team at SARDI have accumulated a valuable body of knowledge and expertise, and growers look to the team for timely advice on the latest post-harvest advances," Mr Walker says.

"Equally important, research will continue into sour rot and soft rots, which are emerging as a significant problem resulting in costly re-packing and an erosion of profits."

The SARDI team will investigate measures to keep existing treatments viable, assess the effectiveness of a new class of softer chemical treatments, and better ways to dispose postharvest chemicals.

Recently, Dr Taverner's team was credited for keeping one million cartons of citrus exports open to a key export market, despite the removal of a previously permitted pest treatment.  This was achieved by formulating a food grade oil that proved effective in protecting fruit from surface pests.

Minister Caica says the industry funding had been secured thanks largely to the time and energy of the SA Citrus Board in conjunction with its partners.

The SA Citrus Industry Development Board, Murray Valley Citrus Board, Riverina Citrus and Riversun Export Pty Ltd banded together to raise voluntary contributions.

Horticulture Australia Limited (HAL) facilitated the matching of this contribution with funds from the Australian Government.  The State Government has contributed significant in-kind support through the expertise of SARDI.