NEWS
Limiting risk M RLS, EHI S , A N D T HE BE N EF I TS TO I N D U STRY & C O N S U M ER
In 2022, pest management decisions are a huge consideration for growers, who must prepare, plan, pre-empt issues and protect the reputation of industry.
repel viruses. Consumers also enjoy
Australia and Summerfruit Australia
the back-story about food they eat
Limited in a project funded by
– they want to know its provenance,
Agriculture Victoria to gather residue
and that it is “clean and safe” – grown
data and apply a model that calculates
using environmentally friendly
the decay of chemicals, for estimating
growing practices.
EHIs for grape exports.
For grape producers, that means
ATGA will model EHIs for eight
careful planning and record keeping
chemicals initially, giving priority
The Australian Table Grape Association (ATGA) project lead Alison MacGregor talks about export harvest intervals – what they are, and how they help grape producers satisfy quality standards in export markets – and a new ATGA project designed to help growers make pest management decisions easier.
with regard to chemical use.
to late-season botryticides, and
Planning includes knowing how long
insecticides. Some data will come
to wait (days) after applying the last
from the chemical industry and
spray, before harvesting fruit, to allow
some from the Food and Agricultural
residual chemical to degrade to the
Organisation (FAO) of the United
levels accepted in each export market
Nations/World Health Organisation
(called a maximum residue limit, MRL).
(WHO).
Sometimes export MRLs are lower
EHI recommendations for grape
than Australian MRLs. In that case,
markets will appear in the ATGA
the length of time required to meet
MRL app. But only if suitable data
the export MRL is likely to be longer
is available for the model (i.e. the
than the withholding period on the
data must meet international
chemical label. The time period
standards used by the FAO for setting
required to meet an export MRL is
internationally agreed (Codex) MRLs).
In a post-Covid world, consumers are seeking healthier snacking options with high levels of antioxidants to help
8 VINE MAGAZINE
called an export harvest interval (EHI). The ATGA will partner with Cherries
The industry must avoid a “rubbish in, rubbish out” situation. EHIs
