Territory mango growers are set for a sweeter season in the Finocchiaro CLP Government's year of action, certainty and security, with a new agreement locking in long-term access to the Western Australian market.
The deal cements the Territory's position as Australia's leading mango producer and delivers certainty for growers ahead of the 2025 harvest.
The newly endorsed Interstate Certification Assurance (ICA) protocol, ICA-69, replaces the previous trial agreement between the NT and WA, known as CTM-01, into a permanent, nationally recognised process for sending mangoes into WA.
It allows four major mango varieties Honey Gold, R2E2, Calypso, and Kensington Pride to be exported into WA using an alternative treatment option.
Managing fruit fly risk is a key part of the new ICA-69 agreement. Growers must spray their trees before harvest, carefully inspect fruit for any signs of pests, and only send mangoes that are hard, mature, and of Class 1 quality.
Vapour Heat Treatment, where mangoes are gently heated with warm, moist air to kill fruit fly pests before transport, remains an important and trusted option for all mango varieties.
The new ICA-69 process provides Territory growers a reliable, long-term pathway to send four major varieties into Western Australia, while the existing CTM-01 agreement will continue to apply for exports to South Australia.
The announcement comes as mango growers from across the Top End gather this week for the Australian Mangoes pre-season roadshow, wich was held in Darwin yesterday at Acacia Hills Farm and in Katherine today at Niceforo Farms.
Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries, Gerard Maley, said the approval of ICA-69 is a game-changer for Territory growers.
"The Territory harvests the majority of Australia's mango crop, producing 52% of the nation's mangoes in the 2024/25 season, that's 27,500 tonnes or 3.9 million trays picked from orchards stretching between Darwin and Mataranka," Mr Maley said.
"The industry contributes an estimated $100 million to the Territory economy each year and supports around 2,500 local, national and international workers during harvest."
"By securing market access and investing in research into Mango Twig Tip Dieback, our government is safeguarding the long-term viability of our mango industry, delivering certainty for growers, protecting jobs, and reinforcing our place as Australia's leading mango producer."
"NT mangoes are world class, and securing national market access ahead of the 2025 season is a credit to Chief Plant Health Officer Sally Heaton and her team. Their work on this new ICA, backed by national biosecurity support and scientific rigour, is greatly appreciated."
As part of the pre-season roadshow, researchers from NT DAF will update growers on the latest trials to manage Mango Twig Tip Dieback (MTTD).
The disease was first identified in 2017, causing branch death, tree decline and significant crop losses, with the Northern Territory Farmers Association estimating annual losses of up to $7 million to the Darwin mango industry.
To tackle this, the Finocchiaro CLP Government is investing $500,000 a year over two years in a nationally co-developed research program focused on an integrated management approach, led by NT DAF in partnership with industry bodies and researchers across the country.
The Territory Government remains committed to supporting local growers and protecting the long-term viability of the Northern Territory's world-class mango industry.
