Australia's $130M Horticulture Export Drive Surges

Australia's horticulture sector is strengthening its global competitiveness as the Fresh and Secure Trade Alliance (FASTA) completes its second year.

"FASTA is building the evidence, tools and capability that underpin Australia's access to high value markets. In just two years, we're seeing tangible outcomes that will benefit growers for decades to come," Hort Innovation GM Trade and Biosecurity R&D, Dr Mila Bristow said.

Backed by Hort Innovation and delivered by the Queensland Department of Primary Industries (QDPI) through a national consortium of more than 60 researchers and technical experts, FASTA is laying the groundwork for long-term export growth and safeguarding productivity across horticultural industries.

Dr Bristow said leading Australian research teams and Australian growers were setting R&D priorities for future work in market access, sustainable pest management and national biosecurity preparedness.

"The program reflects Australia's ambition to become a world leader in data driven, science backed trade," she said.

"From new pathways into Asia, to improved readiness for exotic pests, to better use of the natural enemies of our fruit pests, to stronger science that supports international negotiations. This is the kind of long-term investment that keeps Australian horticulture competitive and trusted globally."

With over 100 activities related to market access, biosecurity and integrated pest management currently in progress, just some of the major outcomes from this two-year period include:

• The development of technical reports underpinning bilateral negotiations, supporting market access negotiations for blueberries and mainland apples into Asia.
• Experimental trials advancing biological control techniques using parasitoids and entomopathogenic nematodes, with findings now published internationally.
• Development of new methodologies to support responses to exotic fruit fly incursions, alongside stronger collaboration with state and national biosecurity agencies.
• FASTA team members providing support to the National Exotic Fruit Fly in Torres Strait Eradication Program by participating in audits of field control activities, and
• 12 university students completing or progressing through PhD and Honours programs aligned to FASTA, continuing the pipeline of horticulture science.

This research is essential to opening new markets and diversifying business for Australian growers. The researchers involved in the project explained the impact of their work:

Lucy McLay, Research Scientist at Agriculture Victoria and lead researcher on the FASTA parasitoids work, explained what this means for growers:

"Our research demonstrates that the establishment of natural enemies of Queensland fruit fly in areas where they have been previously absent, can work hand in hand with growers management efforts, helping to reduce fruit fly on an area-wide scale and suppress pest hotspots beyond the farm gate. Establishment of these predators has the potential to reduce fruit fly populations and create a more balanced system where other IPM control methods can work more effectively. For growers, parasitoid establishment offers a self-sustaining way to minimise fruit fly pressure, reduce reliance on chemicals, and better protect both yield and market access."

Peter Prentis, Professor and Director of QUT's Centre for Agriculture and the Bioeconomy, leads a team of FASTA researchers investigating how Queensland fruit fly populations persist in the environment to improve the effectiveness of area wide management programs.

He explains, "growers already put a lot of time and money into trapping fruit fly and working together across regions to keep numbers down and protect trade. This work is essential, but it can be costly. Our research is focused on helping target that effort where it will have the biggest impact, which could help lower costs for growers."

Alex Piper, Senior Research Scientist at Agriculture Victoria has developed new approaches to pest surveillance.

"When a pest like Queensland fruit fly, Mediterranean fruit fly, or a new exotic threat shows up in previously pest‑free areas, the cost can be huge - trade stalls, emergency response teams are called in, and the industry suffers. Our research uses tiny differences in DNA to show if pests are breeding on your farm or coming in from elsewhere - helping growers decide whether to focus on on‑farm control or broader area management."

Developed through FASTA, these tools have since seen strong uptake across state and federal biosecurity agencies, supporting more effective pest management, safeguarding our crops and trade.