- Crisafulli Government launches AgTech project with national horticultural body to uncover emerging laser, electrical and mechanical weed control.
- Project will highlight cutting edge weed control technology suited to Queensland crops, conditions and landscape.
- The Crisafulli Government is delivering on its plan to boost Queensland's primary industries output to $30 billion by 2030, after a decade of regional decline under Labor.
The Crisafulli Government is delivering on its plan to grow Queensland's agriculture industry, by joining forces with Hort Innovation on a nationally significant project to help win the war against weeds and increase productivity.
The 3-year project, led by the Department of Primary Industries, will assist onion and vegetable growers to adopt non-chemical weed control technologies suitable for their local growing conditions.
The Validation of Physical Weed Technologies in Australia (Onion and Vegetable) project, funded by Hort Innovation through industry levies, will address several of the industry's most significant challenges including rising weed management costs, herbicide resistance, labour shortages, and reduced availability of chemical control options.
The work brings together Australian and international partners including Californian-based AgTech stakeholders, Western Growers Association and Reservoir Farms and Cornell University.
The Crisafulli Government's continued focus on AgTech adoption and development to boost productivity is one of the ways we are striving to reach our ambitious target and grow the value primary industries output to $30 billion by 2030.
During Labor's decade of decline Queensland's primary industries were left to wither on the vine, in contrast, the Crisafulli Government is boosting biosecurity and growing our primary industries to benefit all Queenslanders.
Minister for Primary Industries Tony Perrett said the project filled a critical gap between technology development and Australian growers putting it to work on their farms.
"This vital work will provide farmers with a vast array of high-tech equipment options that reduce use and reliance on herbicides and chemicals," Minister Perrett said.
"Weeds pose a significant threat to farm viability and productivity, as well as the natural environment, so we need to improve and update our methods to ensure we can continue to win the war on weeds.
"We are bringing the best innovation to be tested under Australian conditions, and benefit Queensland growers.
"The Crisafulli Government is continuing to back Queensland's agricultural industry and deliver on our Prosper 2050 plan, after the former Labor Government dismissed opportunities to grow the sector during their decade of decline."
