3 minute read
Victoria’s greenlife industry
By Greenlife Industry Australia
The nursery levy funds a variety of projects and programs that help your business and strengthen the greenlife industry. In 2023, levy-funded projects provided valuable tools and research for industry. Highlights included the Nursery Industry Benchmarking Tool, an economic overview of the greenlife sector and a program addressing biosecurity threats.
Victorian economic outlook
The Australian horticulture industry was worth an estimated $17.2 billion in FY2022, according to an ACIL Allen report based on the levy-funded project Economic Contribution of Australian Horticulture (MT21010).
In Victoria, the industry remained steady in the face of cost-of-living pressures and the COVID-19 pandemic. According to the levy-funded 2021–22 Production Nursery Data Capture Report, production businesses represent 36% of total industry sales. And with 3,758 full time equivalent employees (FTE), Victoria makes up 32% of the total Australian industry workforce – the second highest behind NSW/ACT.
On the ground in Victoria
Stats project
In 2023, Greenlife Industry Australia (GIA) ran the fifth Nursery Industry Statistics Survey funded by Hort Innovation. The survey produces a yearly benchmarking tool for production nurseries. The tool provides important data about local businesses and the wider industry, allowing you to compare your nursery’s performance with similar businesses. Boomaroo Nurseries, who began in Lara, Victoria, regularly participates in the survey and the benefits it’s seen have been huge. Boomaroo Director, Nick Jacometti said the tool the tool provides invaluable insights, informing Boomaroo of its position in the industry and helping with immediate and longterm strategic business decisions. Read the full case study at greenlifeindustry.com.au/boomaroo.
Biosecurity threats
Another invaluable levy-funded project in 2023 was a joint project headed by Agriculture Victoria. Dr Fiona Constable, Project Lead and Research Leader –Microbiology, led the project Improving preparedness of the Australian horticultural sector to the threat potentially posed by Xylella fastidiosa (a severe biosecurity risk) (MT17006).
The project looked at improving diagnostic capability to strengthen Australia’s defences against potential Xylella fastidiosa outbreaks. It resulted in Australia’s Xylella protocol being updated, ensuring industry has access to accurate tools in the event of an incursion.
Dr Constable says knowledge-sharing across industry is important to keep Australia ahead of the curve. GIA Extension officers are available to chat about Xylella and other biosecurity issues you may like more information on. You can find your local Extension Officer at nurseryproductionfms.com.au/technicalservice-providers.
Visit greenlifeindustry.com.au/ communications-centre to read the Xylella case study, R&D updates and reports.
Looking forward
By 2030, the projected gross value of Australia’s nursery industry is expected to be $3.2 billion, with Victoria representing $886.4 million of this figure, according to the Center for International Economics. It’s an exciting time to be in the greenlife industry, and GIA looks forward to continuing to work with state organisations and stakeholders to deliver the best possible outcomes for industry.
