Mango

Industry AdvIsory CommIttee AnnuAl report 2013/14

the projects in this report have been funded by Horticulture Australia limited (HAl) using the mango levy and/or voluntary contributions from industry with matched funding from the Australian Government for all research and development (r&d) activity.

Contents1 Overview

3 Increase demand for Australian mangoes in line with Australian production to provide sustainable returns to growers and the supply chain

10 Increase marketable yield per hectare by improving fruit quality

18 Industry development achieved through effective delivery of research, development and extension, knowledge and information to growers

24 Investing in Australian horticulture

25 Across industry program

27 Mango program

29 Mango levy investment summary

Climate Change RD&eThroughout 2013/14, the Australian horticulture industry invested in a range of research, development and extension (RD&E) projects to better understand, adapt to and mitigate the impacts of climate change.

Horticulture Australia Limited (HAL) has invested in cross-collaborative programs, such as the Climate Change Research Strategy for Primary Industries (CCRSPI) and Agricultural Lifecycle Inventory (AusAgLCI), and projects within or across industries, such as on crop phenology, nitrogen and plant-waste management, regulated deficit irrigation, carbon and soil, urban forestry and environmental auditing.

HAL’s RD&E investment is obtained through industry levies, voluntary contributions and matched funds by the Australian Government.

The main growing areas for the mango industry include Darwin, Katherine and Mataranka in the Northern

Territory; the Mareeba/Dimbulah region, Townsville/Burdekin/Bowen regions, Rockhampton/Yeppoon region and Bundaberg in Queensland; Gingin, Carnarvon and Kununurra in Western Australia; and northern New South Wales. The industry supports approximately 800 growers.

At the time this publication went to print, the crop forecast for 2013/14 is 7.2 million trays (weighing 7 kilograms each). This is 2.1 million trays below the 2012/13 season.

The NT experienced an off season with production dropping by two million trays in comparison to the previous two years. The NT crop also experienced Resin Canal Discolouration, lenticel damage and fruit rots. These issues, coupled with reports of immature fruit on the market floor, resulted in reduced consumer confidence.

Queensland experienced good production, but with mixed quality and the majority of fruit hitting the market over a short period, returns to growers at times were below cost of production. Growers have reported this has been one of the most difficult seasons to manage.

This report provides a snapshot of project activities in the 2013/14 year. The report’s sections are divided by the industry’s objectives to reflect the R&D and Marketing activities being undertaken that address these industry issues.

levy investmentIn 2013/14, the total income received was $1,411,364 of which the Australian Government provided $486,625 of matched funding to support 18 projects in the research and development (R&D) levy program.

The current levy is 1.75 cents per kilogam. A total of $1,007,409 was invested into research and development (R&D) projects and $543,012 towards marketing projects.

In addition to levy funds, $2,609,740 of voluntary contributions (VC) was provided to the mango industry for supplementing levy-funded projects and/or solely funding VC-only projects. VC funds were matched by the Australian Government for all R&D activity.

HAL is responsible for managing these funds and takes advice on how to invest the funds

from the Mango Industry Advisory Committee (IAC). Consultation with the IAC is essential in determining the most critical investment priorities for the industry. Priorities set by the IAC include:

• Quality: impacted by a number of factors which may include maturity at picking, pests and diseases, crop nutrition and postharvest handling.

• supply chain transparency: determine where value is added and lost throughout

the supply chain and develop systems and strategies that individual supply chains could implement to improve transparency and trust.

• extension: improve and use innovative methods of extension to increase adoption of best practice and past and current research outcomes.

In 2013/14, the Australian Mango Industry Association (AMIA) acted as the service provider on four projects.

Overview

1

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The industry also contributes 2.25% of levy and/or voluntary contributions (matched to 4.5%) to the Across Industry Program, which addresses issues that affect all of horticulture, such as water availability, climate change, biosecurity and market access.

strategic objectivesThe process of determining the industry’s priorities began with the development of the Australian Mango Industry Strategic Investment Plan 2010–2015 (SIP), which has guided R&D and marketing investment over the past five years. The plan was updated in 2012.

A new plan has been developed to reflect the industry’s priorities and the Australian Government’s rural R&D priorities. The plan will be reviewed regularly. The new SIP was endorsed by the IAC.

The industry’s objectives, as outlined in the current strategic plan, are:

1. Increase demand for Australian mangoes in line with Australian production to provide sustainable returns to growers and the supply chain

2. Increase marketable yield per hectare by improving fruit quality

3. Industry development achieved

through effective delivery of research, development and extension knowledge and information to growers and the supply chain.

Each project in the R&D and marketing program addresses one of these objectives.

r&d programIndustry participated in developing the new Mango Industry Strategic Investment Plan 2015–2019. This plan will be used to guide the IAC and HAL in R&D and marketing levy investment for the next five years. Industry consultation meetings were held in all the major growing regions and the draft plan was uploaded onto the AMIA website, industry.mangoes.net.au, for industry feedback.

The Delivering mango technology project (MG10013) has continued to develop online extension material for industry to access in the areas of tree nutrition and picking and packing. Information has also been extended to growers at field days and workshops.

The Mango industry capacity building program (MG10016) concentrated its efforts in the areas of industry development, communications, crop forecasting and biosecurity. Amongst other issues, this includes the review and development of an

export plan, review of available crop protection practices, continuation of enterprise assessment and market access issues.

A preliminary project looking into the causes and management of Resin Canal Discolouration (RCD) (MG12018) started this year. Field trials were run at two farms in the Darwin area to examine the potential role of fruit maturity, rainfall and production practices on RCD.

The Data collection to facilitate supply chain transparency project (MG12007) improved communication of wholesale and retail data to industry with the employment of a Communications Officer.

Fruit maturity at harvest time affects fruit quality and consumer purchase. The Improving mango quality through accurate harvest maturity project (MG13015) was initiated this season to monitor maturity at harvest time and on the market floor and report back to industry. This information is designed to assist growers in managing the challenges of fruit quality.

The R&D program in 2013/14 consisted of 29 projects. Of this, 11 projects were funded solely by voluntary contributions (VC), and one project was both levy and VC-funded.

marketing programSprout Research were contracted to run a phone survey that gave an insight into consumer purchase behavior. This information will be used to develop the 2014/15 campaign. Merchandising activities this season included providing point of sale information to 300 green grocers for display and distribution to customers. A new initiative to record what shops stocked which varieties and at what volume also occurred. The second Mango Mess-tival was held in association with the North Bondi Surf Life Saving Club to lift the profile of the industry at the height of the season. Momentum is building with huge growth in attendees from last year and live TV coverage. A third event is already being planned for next season.

For more information contact:

Jane Wightman, HAl Industry services manager t 0404 309 877 e jane.wightman@horticulture.com.au

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Increase demand for Australian mangoes in line with Australian production to provide sustainable returns to growers

obJeCtIve 1

data collection to facilitate supply chain transparencyIt is important to provide growers and the industry with accurate and timely information on market signals. This project makes this information available through the internet, which is more accessible for many growers, especially during the picking period, when many growers have limited time.

The project collects and provides all sectors of the supply chain with information from both the wholesale and retail sectors.

Daily reports on wholesale data was collected from the five key wholesale markets in Australia – Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth. This information included prices for a range of varieties, sizes and classes of fruit. Some markets also collect throughput data. The reports include:

• Daily price reporting throughout the season for each city

• High, low and average prices on each variety in each market

• Daily throughput for some markets.

The reports are available through the Australian Mangoes website, www.mangoes.net.au and the Ausmarket website, www.ausmarket.com.au.

Species/Variety/Tonnes Market State Region PackPrice Range Most Sales

Best Avg Kg Supply Demand Carrover QualityLow High Low High

MANGOES, Keitt, No1 ADL Q SLTray 34.00 7 VLight Adeq Some Good

Kensington Pride,No1,Unspecified ADL S SLTray 45.00 7 VLight Adeq Some Good

Brook 7.38T BRS Q SLTray 12.00 - 16.00 7 Light Good

Keitt BRS Q 18LCtn 20.00 - 24.00 10 Light Good

Keitt,Extra BRS Q SLTray 24.00 - 28.00 7 Light Good

Keitt,No1 BRS Q SLTray 16.00 - 24.00 7 Light Mixed

Kent,Extra BRS Q SLTray 20.00 - 26.00 7 Light Good

Kent,No1 BRS Q SLTray 18.00 - 20.00 7 Light Good

Palmer,Extra BRS Q SLTray 20.00 - 26.00 7 Light Good

Palmer,No1 BRS Q SLTray 14.00 - 20.00 7 Light Good

Brook MLB Q SLTray 18.00 - 20.00 22.00 7 Mod Fair Some Fair

Keitt MLB Q 18LCtn 20.00 - 25.00 10 Mod Fair Some Fair

Keitt MLB Q SLTray 20.00 - 24.00 26.00 7 Light Fair Some Fair

Kensington Pride,Unspecified MLB N SLTray 20.00 - 35.00 7 VLight Fair Some Fair

Palmer MLB Q 18LCtn 15.00 10 Light Slow Some Fair

Palmer MLB Q SLTray 15.00 - 20.00 25.00 7 Light Fair Some Fair

Culinary,Unspecified MLB Y Kg 5.00 - 5.50 1 Mod Fair Some Fair

Honey Gold,No1 SYD N SLTray 30.00 - 40.00 45.00 7 VLight Good Some Mixed

Honey Gold,No2 SYD N SLTray 20.00 - 30.00 7 VLight Fair Some Mixed

Keitt,No1 SYD Q SLTray 20.00 - 24.00 26.00 7 Mod Fair Some Fair

Keitt,No2 SYD Q SLTray 10.00 - 16.00 14.00 - 16.00 7 Mod Slow Some Mixed

Kensington Pride,Extra SYD N SLTray 50.00 - 55.00 7 VLight Fair Some Fair

Kensington Pride,No1,Unspecified SYD N SLTray 18.00 - 30.00 7 VLight Slow Some Mixed

Kensington Pride,No2 SYD N SLTray 12.00 - 16.00 7 VLight Slow Some Mixed

Kensington Pride,Out of Grade SYD N SLTray 6.00 - 12.00 7 VLight Slow Some Poor

Palmer SYD Q SLTray 14.00 - 20.00 18.00 7 Mod Slow Some Mixed

Since September 2010, retail data is being collected on a weekly basis from 16 retail stores (major chains and independents) in four capital cities – Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth. The stores surveyed includes Coles, Woolworths, independent

supermarkets and independent fruit and vegetable stores. The data is uploaded weekly and contains information on the range of mango varieties. The table contains an example of the data collected and the graphs are a graphical representation of price

movement, which is also available on the website. This example is for a week in early March 2014.

The reports are available through the mango industry website, industry.mangoes.net.au.

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Weekly mango retail prices by store, state & variety - as at 3 march 2014

StoreType Store Location Store region Product Average / Total weight Unit Price On Special Country of Origin

I Carindale Brisbane Pearl 302 $3.00 Store Special AustraliaWoolworths Garden City Brisbane Keitt 460 $1.98 No AustraliaI Greenslopes Brisbane Keitt 525 $2.39 Store Special AustraliaI Greenslopes Brisbane Keitt 525 $3.00 Store Special AustraliaI Greenslopes Brisbane Keitt 540 $2.39 Store Special AustraliaI Greenslopes Brisbane Keitt 540 $3.00 Store Special AustraliaIC Ipswich Rd Buranda Brisbane Palmer 15 $9.99 Store Special AustraliaIC Ipswich Rd Buranda Brisbane Palmer 700 $2.99 No AustraliaI Toowong Brisbane Keitt 625 $2.99 Store Special AustraliaI Toowong Brisbane Keitt 625 $2.50 Store Special AustraliaColes Upper Mt Gravatt Brisbane Keitt 340 $2.98 No AustraliaSafeway Brunswick Square Melbourne Keitt 390 $1.75 Catalogue Special AustraliaColes Brunswick Square Melbourne Keitt 550 $1.75 Store Special AustraliaSafeway Camberwell Melbourne Keitt 580 $2.68 Store Special AustraliaI Carnegie Melbourne Keitt 425 $2.25 Store Special Not SpecifiedColes Chadstone Melbourne Keitt 420 $1.75 Catalogue Special AustraliaColes Chadstone Melbourne Keitt 420 $1.75 Catalogue Special AustraliaI Fitzroy Melbourne Other 305 $2.99 No AustraliaIC Kew Melbourne Brooks 450 $3.00 Store Special AustraliaIC Kew Melbourne Keitt 500 $3.00 Store Special AustraliaI Kew Melbourne Keitt 520 $3.49 No AustraliaI Kew Melbourne Keitt 520 $3.49 No AustraliaI Prahran Melbourne Brooks 420 $2.00 Store Special Not SpecifiedI Prahran Melbourne Keitt 405 $2.00 Store Special Not SpecifiedColes Prahran Melbourne Keitt 390 $1.75 Store Special AustraliaColes Prahran Melbourne Keitt 360 $1.75 Store Special AustraliaIC Richmond Melbourne Brooks 490 $2.75 Store Special AustraliaIC Richmond Melbourne Brooks 490 $2.75 Store Special AustraliaIC Richmond Melbourne Honey Gold 550 $4.29 No AustraliaI Richmond Melbourne Keitt 405 $2.98 No AustraliaI Richmond Melbourne Kensington Pride 390 $3.98 No AustraliaI Cannington Perth Kensington Pride 465 $5.99 Store Special Not SpecifiedI Churchlands Perth Kensington Pride 340 $4.99 No AustraliaIS Como Perth Kensington Pride 390 $5.99 No Not SpecifiedI Innaloo Perth Kensington Pride 320 $3.00 Store Special AustraliaWoolworths Innaloo Perth Kensington Pride 320 $3.98 Store Special AustraliaI Innaloo Perth Kensington Pride 320 $3.48 No AustraliaI Joondanna Perth Kensington Pride 540 $5.99 No AustraliaI Mt Lawley Perth Kensington Pride 390 $5.99 No AustraliaIS Shenton Park Perth Kensington Pride 460 $5.49 No AustraliaWoolworths Station Square Subiaco Perth Kensington Pride 320 $3.98 No AustraliaI Subiaco Perth Kensington Pride 320 $2.99 Store Special AustraliaIS Wembley Perth Kensington Pride 340 $4.99 No AustraliaIC Bondi Junction Eastgate Sydney Brooks 360 $1.50 Store Special AustraliaIC Bondi Junction Eastgate Sydney Honey Gold 410 $5.99 No AustraliaIC Bondi Junction Westfield Sydney Honey Gold 550 $9.99 No AustraliaWoolworths Bondi Junction Westfield Sydney Keitt 440 $2.98 No AustraliaIC Bondi Junction Westfield Sydney Keitt 580 $4.99 No AustraliaColes Bondi Junction Westfield Sydney Keitt 550 $2.98 No AustraliaIC Bondi Junction Westfield Sydney Nam doc Mai 280 $9.99 No AustraliaIC Bondi Junction Westfield Sydney Palmer 390 $2.00 No AustraliaIC Bondi Junction Westfield Sydney Palmer 580 $3.00 No AustraliaIC Bondi Junction Westfield Sydney Palmer 580 $3.49 No AustraliaIC Bondi Junction Westfield Sydney Palmer 390 $2.49 No AustraliaIC Broadway Sydney Brooks 320 $1.50 Store Special Australia

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IC Broadway Sydney Brooks 18 $19.99 Store Special AustraliaColes Broadway Sydney Keitt 520 $2.98 No AustraliaIC Edgecliff Sydney Brooks 460 $2.50 No AustraliaIC Leichardt Sydney Honey Gold 550 $7.99 No AustraliaColes Leichardt Sydney Keitt 560 $2.98 No AustraliaIC Leichardt Sydney Keitt 500 $3.49 No AustraliaIC Leichardt Sydney Palmer 370 $2.50 No AustraliaIC Leichardt Sydney Palmer 370 $2.99 No AustraliaIS Marrickville Sydney Keitt 360 $1.99 Store Special AustraliaIS Marrickville Sydney Palmer 750 $5.99 No AustraliaWoolworths Marrickville Metro Sydney Keitt 570 $2.98 No AustraliaI Marrickville Metro Sydney Keitt 540 $3.45 No AustraliaI Rose Bay Sydney Honey Gold 530 $7.99 No AustraliaI Rose Bay Sydney Palmer 600 $4.99 No Australia

prices for Kensington pride - vic

prices for Kensington pride - WA

This project was funded by mango levies.

Project MG12007

For more information contact: Trevor Dunmall, AMiA T 07 3278 3755 e idm@mangoes.net.au

StoreType Store Location Store region Product Average / Total weight Unit Price On Special Country of Origin

prices for Kensington pride - nsW

prices for Kensington pride - Qld

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Resin canal discolouration (RCD) is a quality defect that reduces the marketability of mango fruit. Market reports of RCD have increased during the past two mango seasons. A one-year scoping project is focusing on identifying factors that contribute to RCD.

Fruit consignments from 13 growers in the Darwin production area were monitored for RCD at a Northern Territory packhouse during the 2013 mango season. The fruit was sampled at grading from 34 consignments. The sampled fruit were maintained in Darwin until ripe and served as library trays. The remaining fruit were commercially packed, cooled and transported to the Melbourne markets where produce inspectors were engaged to assess a random selection of fruit for RCD upon their arrival.

Preliminary observations suggest that RCD can be occasionally found in green fruit on the tree or on the grading table, but only when the fruit and/or stems have severe and recent physical injury or pathogen infection. The researchers also found that RCD increases in severity over time as fruit develop from firm ripe to overripe. Further, RCD incidence can vary markedly between different farms

resin canal discolourationin a close geographic area and for different harvest dates from the same farm.

Field trials at two farms in the Darwin area were established during 2013 to examine the potential role of fruit maturity, rainfall and production practices on RCD. These were among the most commonly perceived factors associated with RCD based on a pre-season survey of growers, packers and wholesalers. The preliminary data suggest:

• RCD can be present in the flesh without obvious symptoms on the skin

• RCD incidence is relatively higher in fruit exposed to commercial harvest and handling procedures compared to fruit ripened directly off the tree

• RCD incidence and severity can be higher in fruit picked immature as compared to fruit of more advanced harvest maturity

• RCD incidence can be higher in fruit harvested within 12 hours of a rain event relative to fruit picked 60 hours after rainfall.

The observations to date suggest that RCD is likely to occur when field conditions result

in the production of ‘sensitive’ fruit that, in turn, express the defect when exposed to harvest and postharvest stresses. Preliminary recommendations on selected production and postharvest factors that potentially contribute to RCD will be made in June 2014. This will also highlight appropriate production and postharvest handling practices that may potentially minimise RCD.

This project represents an opportunity for the mango industry to determine the extent of RCD in the market and its potential contributing factors. The project will also potentially enhance fruit quality outcomes through improved field, postharvest and supply chain monitoring. Follow-on R&D will be necessary to realise the full commercial benefits such as reducing the incidence of this defect.

This project was funded by mango levies and voluntary contributions.

Project MG12018

For more information contact: Dr Andrew Macnish, DAFF Qld T 07 5453 5984 e andrew.macnish@daff.qld.gov.au

Left: Extensive RCD in the flesh can develop in ripe to over-ripe mango fruit

Right: Injured mango fruit on the tree can occasionally show RCD through the skin.

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Reliable technologies for consistent in-transit ripening of mango, and predictive models for the ‘B74’ cultivar (Calypso™) are being developed to estimate the additional ripening required on arrival at the markets. Previous research in project MG10008 confirmed the potential for in-transit ripening by demonstrating that the new road/rail containers could maintain the temperatures of ripening mangoes. The project also tested ethylene release systems to provide the required ethylene treatment during transit, and tested the removal of excess carbon dioxide (CO2) generated by fruit respiration. The current project was initiated to refine these technologies and evaluate temperature, ethylene and CO2 monitoring systems to provide real-time data on container conditions during transport from the packhouse to market.

A review of existing temperature monitoring technologies available in Australia identified the XSense system as potentially the most suitable with respect to cost, flexibility and capability for real-time data transfer. This system was tested in containers and trailers between the NT and Adelaide, and North Qld and Brisbane. The system performed well regarding data acquisition and availability through its website, and email alerts on consignment arrival at market and when

In-transit ripening and predicting outturn qualityconsignments deviated from pre-set temperature limits. The data indicated the potential for the transport containers to maintain fruit temperatures. However, there were also instances of poor temperature control with increasing temperatures during transit and significantly higher temperatures toward the back of the container. The causes for this poor performance were unclear, but in several instances, loading with a gap between the front of the container and the first pallet (which allows cold air short-circuiting) and blocking the return air to the refrigeration unit by inappropriate use of ply sheets were contributing factors. Better supervision of trailer loading practices is required.

Several technologies for ethylene release, including an encapsulated ethylene powder manufactured by the University of Queensland, and ethylene release through semi-permeable bags were further tested this season. Both systems demonstrated the potential for sustained ethylene release, but refinement is required to consistently provide two to three days of adequate ethylene exposure. The research was limited by ethylene logger availability, but work is underway to develop cheaper loggers to test next season.

The CO2 produced by ripening fruit can result

understanding purchase behaviourReliable information on consumer purchase patterns help the mango industry to gain a better understanding of shopping behaviour and allows for better promotion planning throughout the year.

Nielsen’s Homescan Consumer Panel was designed to monitor and understand household purchasing of packaged groceries and fresh produce. With 10,000 demographically-representative households, the Australian panel is now the second largest panel per capita in the world, providing household-level data on a continuous basis.

To date in 2013/14, 50 percent of Australian households purchased mangoes at least once. The average Australian household spent almost $15 on mangoes about three times in the year. Of the households that bought mangoes, two-thirds did not have children under 18 years.

Senior couples are particularly important as they account for 20 percent of spend on mangoes. Senior couples spent 80 cents per kilogram less than the average buyer, but bought about 700 grams more than independent singles.

This project was funded by mango levies as well as levies from the apple and pear, avocado, banana, citrus, lychee, macadamia, pineapple, papaya, summerfruit and table grape industries. Voluntary contributions were also provided by the almond, blueberry and pistachio industries.

project mt12010

For more information contact: elisa King, HAl t 02 8295 2332 e elisa.king@horticulture.com.au

in more than 10 percent carbon dioxide in the transport container after three days. ‘B74’ mango is comparatively insensitive to these high concentrations, but concentrations above four percent represent a workplace health and safety issue. The previous project demonstrated the potential for maintaining CO2 concentrations below four percent using hydrated lime. Further testing this season confirmed this, but also identified the need for further work to ensure consistent results. Compact, energy-efficient CO2 loggers developed by Maxtend (Mitsubishi) performed well in monitoring CO2 concentrations.

Future work will refine ethylene and CO2 control systems and monitoring technology. A predictive model for ‘B74’ mango will use this information to estimate the additional ripening required at market to meet customer specifications. This will significantly reduce ripening costs and shorten the time between harvest and retail shelf.

This project was funded by voluntary contributions.

project mG12016

For more information contact: dr peter Hofman, dAFF Qld t 0407 173 608 e peter.hofman@daff.qld.gov.au

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To access new and emerging international markets, Australian mango growers must be able to demonstrate that their fruit are free from pest fruit fly larvae. Australia’s mango growing regions are home to several tropical pest fruit flies and importing nations, understandably, do not want to risk importing new pests and diseases into their own horticultural regions.

This new project builds on the successful work emerging out of its companion project, (MG11005), which investigated the potential for untreated mangoes from a single production region (Katherine/Mataranka) to meet the importation requirements of fruit fly-sensitive markets. This new project is investigating the extent to which these findings can be applied to other production areas in Australia.

In its first year, the project focused on monitoring fruit fly populations in and around Darwin mango orchards and large-scale collections of Darwin-region fruit to assess the background level of fruit fly infestation.

Prior to the 2013 mango season, an extensive trapping grid was deployed across three major production zones within the Darwin region to monitor seasonal activity of two fruit fly species, the Queensland fruit fly (Bactrocera tryoni) and Jarvis’ fruit fly (B. jarvisi). The data collected from this will be used to test whether the underlying pattern of fruit fly activity in Darwin is similar to that observed in the Katherine/Mataranka region under project MG11005.

In the 2013 season, the project assessed over 4,500 “Kensington Pride” mangoes from the Darwin region. Preliminary analysis of the results is suggesting that, as documented in MG11005, the majority of infested fruit are those with some other predisposing defect, such as advanced ripening or broken skin. This is encouraging for the development of new ‘systems approaches’ for mangoes, which are likely to include inspection, grading, culling and packing processes as a key element for

New fruit fly systems for market access

Fruit fly cage trials in progress at the Katherine Research Station in 2013. Previous work has shown that detailed cage trials are needed to further refine conclusions about risk of commercially-harvested mangoes being infested with fruit flies, and in applying those conclusions to all growing regions. While the risk of infestation appears to be overall very low, this project is aiming to better understand the influence on host status of key factors such as variety and maturity/ripening status. (Images: T Alexander, DPIF NT)

preventing the entry of potentially-infested fruit into the commercial supply chain.

Future work aims to expand on these monitoring and collection activities, as well as resolving the fruit fly host status of major Australian mango cultivars and piloting new fruit fly systems.

Controlled cage studies will play an important role in refining conclusions about the susceptibility of hard mature mangoes to fruit fly and other fruit factors (such as cultivar, maturity and skin defects) that may increase the susceptibility of individual fruit to infestation by fruit flies.

Based on previous findings, this project will work with project partners to develop and implement ‘best-bet’ fruit fly management systems on a commercial scale, and evaluate their ability to meet the requirements of international and domestic market access regulators. Some of these evaluations will focus on packing shed systems designed to reduce the risk of infested fruit entering the commercial supply chain. Other evaluations will focus on the ability to reduce the underlying risk of fruit fly infestation through measures applied to suppress fruit fly populations in the field.

There are substantial benefits to industry if market access protocols can be developed that allow the export of mangoes into international markets without the need for expensive and potentially unnecessary postharvest fruit fly treatments. These benefits include strengthened market access into fruit-fly sensitive markets and less chemical use in the field and in packing sheds, resulting in reduced risks and costs and increased profits to industry.

To achieve this outcome, market access regulators need to be convinced that untreated mangoes can be imported for their consumers, without also attaching an unacceptable risk of importing new and unwanted fruit fly pests. This project will play a critical role in building the evidence base that could transform and underpin market access arrangements for Australian mangoes for many years into the future.

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This project was funded by voluntary contributions.

project mG12017

For more information contact: Austin mclennan, dpIF nt t 08 8973 9762 e austin.mclennan@nt.gov.au

Checking a protein-based trap capable of killing both male and female fruit flies. A pilot study on one commercial farm in 2013 investigated the potential for these traps to prevent the entry of mated female fruit flies when placed around the orchard perimeter. If they are shown to be effective, tactics such as this could play a role in removing the need for postharvest disinfestation to meet international market access. (Image: T Alexander, DPIF)

Improving quality through accurate harvest maturity Years of consumer research into mangoes clearly indicates that one of the top two factors influencing purchase is quality. Mangoes are subject to a wide range of issues that can impact on quality of the fruit, both in the field and through the supply chain.

There has been much conjecture about the different aspects of quality and the impacts on a consumer’s decision to purchase. Quality relates to a range of criteria, but importantly includes maturity and a range of defects and disorders.

This project was developed to provide an objective assessment of key quality parameters, both in the field and in the market place.

The project undertook two activities:

1. A small-scale assessment working with growers to test maturity, as measured by dry matter, prior to harvest

2. In-market assessment of mango consignments in the Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne and Perth wholesale markets.

orchard dry matter testingThis activity saw 215 Dry Matter (DM) tests and 38 Brix tests undertaken on retained fruit samples with growers in the Northern Territory. It was operated as a pilot study to assess the value and functionality of the activity. The outcomes of the tests will be presented to industry in a series of industry meetings during the first half of 2014.

In market assessmentThis assessment was undertaken by independent quality assessors in four key wholesale markets in Australia. Over 1,000 consignments were inspected across the four markets, with more detailed quality assessments and Brix testing done on random consignments. 400 of these

consignments were tested for Brix levels.

In addition, the consignments were assessed for a range of defects and disorders, such as resin canal, sap burn and field blemish.

Resin canal, which has become a significant issue over the past two seasons, was evident in fruit from several regions and often only becomes very evident as the fruit ripens. The symptoms often become evident in the wholesale markets and more evident in retail.

Other significant issues and defects were skin browning, sap burn, field blemish and lenticel spots.

A report on the outcomes of this project will be presented at regional growers workshops and reported in the industry publication, Mango Matters.

This project was funded by mango levies.

project mG13015

For more information contact: trevor dunmall, AmIA t 07 3278 3755 e idm@mangoes.net.au

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Increase marketable yield per hectare by improving fruit quality

obJeCtIve 2

A systems approach to fruit fly management and market accessThis project is developing alternative market access protocols to allow mango exports into domestic and international markets without the need for postharvest fruit fly treatments. Current treatments include chemical dips or sprays with dimethoate or fenthion, fumigation with methyl bromide, physical treatments such as vapour heat treatment, and irradiation. Treatments using dimethoate, fenthion and methyl bromide are under threat of regulatory review, while other treatments such as irradiation can impact negatively on fruit quality. All involve additional costs and burdens to the industry and removing their requirement would have significant advantages in terms of maintaining and improving market access for Australian mangoes.

Substantial research is required to build the evidence needed to convince market access regulators that untreated mangoes can be imported without an unacceptable risk of importing infested fruit.

This project focuses on the growing acceptance of ‘systems approaches’ where several independent control measures are used in combination to deliver a similar or greater level of phytosanitary protection than a single postharvest treatment.

When this project commenced, it was expected that a successful systems approach for untreated mangoes from the Katherine/Mataranka region, NT, might include:

1. Production areas with low populations of tropical pest fruit flies

1. Fruit harvested at the commercially hard green mature stage, when the fruit are less susceptible to fruit fly

1. Packing, grading, inspection and culling processes to prevent ‘at-risk’ fruit from entering the supply chain.

Significant progress has since been made in evaluating each of these elements.

population monitoringExtensive trapping studies have provided valuable insights into the patterns of fruit fly activity in and around mango orchards in the region. Of particular note is that one of the four zones being studied (Mataranka zone) may be eligible for recognition as an area of low pest prevalence (ALPP) for Queensland fruit fly, Bactrocera tryoni. Insights into the activity of a second fruit fly pest, B. jarvisi, are also proving valuable to industry.

In the 2013/14 season, baseline fruit fly activity data from these studies was used to design experiments to test if local fruit fly populations could be further suppressed within an orchard using the male annihilation technique (MAT).

Investigating the impact of fruit maturity on host statusThis project aimed to quantify the risk of an untreated mango from the Katherine/Mataranka region being infested with pest fruit fly larvae. Assessments of over 50,000 fruit confirmed that this risk is extremely low, and that the few detections can mostly

be attributed to the presence of overripe or damaged fruit in the sample. However, a very small number of hard mature mangoes at harvest were infested with fruit fly larvae. These few detections point to the need for a greater understanding of the relationship between fruit fly risk and possible contributing factors such as fruit maturity and cultivar. They also suggest that fruit fly suppression

MAT Lure device used to suppress fruit fly populations under a commercial-scale pilot study in 2013. The cup contains a wick impregnated with a lure compound that attracts males of certain fruit fly species, and an insecticide that kills them once attracted. Mass deployment around an orchard may help to suppress fruit fly populations by interfering with the ability of female flies to locate and mate with male flies. This method, called the Male Annihilation Technique, is usually considered a supplementary treatment to other suppression techniques. (Image: T Alexander, DPIF)

Female fruit fly on late-hanging mango. Results from extensive trapping grids are providing valuable insights into fruit fly activity around Katherine region mango orchards that will help in the development of systems approaches to market access. (Image: A McLennan, DPIF NT)

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reducing skin damage and improving postharvest efficiency of Calypso™ mangoSkin damage can significantly affect the saleable quantity of fruit.

This project focused on identifying factors affecting skin damage and postharvest efficiency of ‘B74’ mango (marketed as ‘Calypso™’), with special reference to reducing lenticel discolouration (LD). This defect causes darkening/browning of lenticel tissues and is more severe for fruit exposed to water and irradiation treatments after harvest.

Researchers at Agri-Science Queensland established that ‘B74’ fruit develops more lenticels than ‘Kensington Pride’ (KP), ‘Honey Gold’ (HG) and ‘R2E2’ cultivars, particularly during later stages of fruit development. They also found that a waxy layer covering lenticels often becomes sheared and cracked during later fruit growth, potentially rendering lenticels vulnerable to water entry and associated damage. Phenolic compounds appear to accumulate in cells surrounding damaged lenticels.

In the third season of the project, they evaluated several pre- and postharvest treatments. This included covering fruit on the tree with paper bags, surface coatings such as carnauba wax to reduce water entry into the lenticels, and exposing the mangoes to modified atmospheres after harvest to reduce the browning reaction that causes discolouration.

While some treatments such as waxing and modified atmospheres reduced LD, the benefits were largely transient and modest.

The team also tested whether tree crop load could affect LD by removing fruit from the western side of the trees. The treatment reduced the percentage of sunburnt fruit, but had little impact on fruit size, maturity or LD severity in ripe fruit that had been irradiated. They also

investigated if withholding irrigation for up to eight weeks before harvest could reduce LD but they found that had either little effect on LD or, in one of the blocks, resulted in ripe fruit with more LD after irradiation treatment.

The researchers tested whether ripening fruit were less sensitive to irradiation-induced damage, characterising the fruit response to several irradiation doses as required for different markets. Regardless of the dose, irradiating partially ripened fruit resulted in ripe fruit with significantly less LD than irradiating non-ripe green fruit. This strategy may be a commercially viable option for minimising LD where fruit can be air-freighted short distances to some markets. There was also a gradual increase in the severity of LD as the irradiation dose increased from 150, 300, 500, and up to 800 Gray (Gy).

A three-year evaluation across five farms in the Northern Territory and Queensland looking at production factors that affect LD and the potential to extend the harvest period was completed. Production factors were analysed to identify tree and fruit variables that may predict LD in Calypso™. The results are currently being analysed. The average harvest window (the time in which each tree reached the minimum acceptable maturity of about 14 percent dry matter and the time in which the tree dropped at least 10% of its fruit) was greatest in the hotter Northern Territory production areas and narrowest at the cooler Queensland sites. This can allow later harvest in the hotter regions, thus improving flavour of the ripe fruit.

This project was funded by voluntary contributions.

Project MG10008

For more information contact: Dr Peter Hofman, Agri-Science Queensland T 0407 173 608 e peter.hofman@daff.qld.gov.au

strategies in and around mango orchards may be an additional element to consider, including in any proposed systems approach for market access.

Identifying research gapsIn investigating the risk of untreated mangoes being infested under current production and packing regimes, more specific research questions require testing. For example, field-based cage studies in the 2013/14 season started to refine conclusions about the susceptibility of hard mature mangoes to fruit fly. Similarly, a large-scale pilot study in 2013/14 with a commercial partner began investigating the ability to suppress pest fruit fly populations in and around mango orchards using current technologies such as MAT.

ConclusionOverall, the research has shown good prospects for reducing the current reliance on postharvest treatments to meet interstate market access requirements for mangoes grown in the Katherine/Mataranka region, NT. Importantly, the project is also providing guidance on the potential for applying a systems approach to market access beyond this original focus to other production regions within the Australian mango industry.

While this project is due to conclude in 2014, ongoing research work will continue under a new project (MG12017) to ensure this project’s successes are built upon and developed to maximise the likelihood of adoption by market access regulators and industry.

This project was funded by voluntary contributions.

Project MG11005

For more information contact: Austin McLennan, DPiF NT T 08 8973 9762 e austin.mclennan@nt.gov.au

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Improving ‘Honey Gold’ Many ‘Honey Gold’ mango growers experience reduced profitability from low packouts of premium grade fruit. Initiatives to improve profitability by reducing under-skin browning (USB), increasing packout percentages, developing a crop forecasting model and finding alternative outlets for non-premium grade fruit have been conducted over three seasons.

Improving under-skin browningUSB develops as a bruise-like symptom under the mango skin several days after packing, and is particularly prevalent in fruit from hotter growing areas. ‘Honey Gold’ is particularly susceptible, but USB also affects R2E2 and Kensington Pride.

There was minimal commercial USB this season following improved fruit handling procedures as recommended by previous trial work. Further research, supported by a related project, confirmed that night harvesting is likely to significantly reduce USB - fruit harvested from midnight to early morning are less susceptible to USB compared with afternoon harvested fruit.

One Katherine property consistently showed lower USB in trials and commercial fruit.

Differences in soil type, soil pH, rootstocks and quality of irrigation water (river versus bore) exist. Why this property has lower incidence has not yet been established.

Crop forecastingThe crop forecasting model being developed correctly identified times of harvest and overlap of Queensland production areas due to the mild winter. Third year results confirm that “Honey Gold” fruit reach commercial maturity at 1,500-1,600 accumulated heat sums, from the time of initial fruit set.

downgrades analysisMore growers completed pack shed downgrade analysis reports compared with previous seasons. The reports showed that packout percentage increased for a number of farms due to dry weather and improved farm management. Blemish/rubs were again the most common downgrade. Late season scale outbreaks and fruit staining (after rain) were issues on some farms. There was very little fruit disease in ripe fruit this season but some lenticel spotting was evident in fruit picked after rain in North Queensland.

Farm visits have resulted in better pruning methods, use of commercial pruning

contractors, greater attention to sprayers and spraying, as well as greater pest control during early fruit set. Most ‘Honey Gold’ growers grow other mango cultivars and have used methods from ‘Honey Gold’ across their orchards. These improvements will help reduce the percentage of fruit downgraded because of defects.

Alternative markets for non-premium fruitLast season a ‘Honey Gold’ branded 15 kilogram bulk box was developed and was used again this season with great success. The branding and fruit quality (all graded to a specification) has helped this grade of fruit find a ready market place.

A mod-12 box was designed for Class 1 fruit. This season a Harris Farm Markets exclusive box was sold throughout the season with extremely positive feedback. This will be extended to more customers next year.

Export markets were further developed this season with successful shipments to Hong Kong, Singapore, Canada and Russia through export agents. ‘Honey Gold’ fruit were also successfully supplied direct to Countdown New Zealand from Piñata.

Three new processing opportunities for ‘Honey Gold’ were explored this year with very positive results. Piñata is also continuing to conduct some in-house trials with cut fruit, looking at different ways of increasing shelf life to provide ready-to-eat” ‘Honey Gold’ Mango tubs.

The project is now in its final stages and concludes this financial year.

This project was funded by voluntary contributions.

Project MG10009

For more information contact: Ted winston, Tropical Horticultural Consulting Pty Ltd T 0412 534 514 e tedwinston.thc@gmail.com

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Manipulating flowering to extend harvest windowMastering mango floral manipulation can enable producers to spread the harvest time to provide both market advantage and productivity gains in their businesses.

By understanding the vegetative and flowering patterns in mango and developing practices that manipulate each phase of the plant’s growth so that floral induction can be better synchronised, this project aims to improve greater uniformity in fruit maturity within managed blocks at harvest.

The research involves testing combined treatments of timely pruning, appropriate tree nutrition, application of plant growth regulators and foliar nutrients. This knowledge will assist in spreading the harvest window and improve the harvest efficiency.

The researchers have been collecting flushing data after pruning since May 2013 for Kensington pride (KP) and B74. The B74 flushing cycle is noticeably longer than KP,

but both seem to be disrupted towards the end of the dry season. There have been some problems of mango tip borer defoliating some branches, which needs to be controlled before the start of the wet season if the flushing synchrony in response to hedging and pruning is to be maintained. The data is being processed to describe the duration of flushing due to prevailing temperatures.

A technique called aeroponics (growing plants in containers and misting the roots with a range of nutrients) is being used to evaluate the uptake of paclobutrazol and its effect on flushing patterns and root growth. The preliminary trial to test the technique appears to have been successful. There were distinct and repeatable differences between rootstocks evident in the amount of root growth and nutrient uptake. The researchers are now expanding the number of chambers and have propagated a large number of

seedlings to commence further work after the wet season.

With the support of the Australian Mango Industry Association, the trial use of ethephon was approved by the APVMA and plants were pruned prior to Christmas 2013 to generate flushes of different ages by the end of the wet season. The differences between cultivars in the response to ethephon, the effects on the flushing cycle and the amount of leaf loss of leaves of different ages will be looked at.

Not all this work will be finalised but a progress report will be present at grower forums in 2014.

This project was funded by voluntary contributions.

Project MG12012

For more information contact: Dr Cameron McConchie, DPiF NT T 0419 884 037 e cameron.mcconchie@nt.gov.au

Integrating genomics into breedingMolecular genetic tools are being developed as part of the Australian Mango Breeding Program to support and improve breeding. These tools will give breeders a better understanding of mango genetics and allow them to create desirable cultivars faster and more efficiently.

The project commenced in March 2013 and continues some of the research initiated in the previous breeding project (MG09003).

The researchers are identifying genes and gene markers for disease resistance by screening potential gene markers across breeding populations, segregating for disease tolerance. This will provide a tool to identify resistance in other varieties and breeding progeny, leading to faster and more efficient breeding for disease resistance.

Gene markers for tree architecture, fruit colour and flavour that were identified

in earlier projects will be added to a DNA chromosome map developed in the Mango Fruit Genomics Initiative. This map will be further enhanced by combining it with marker data from the USDA-ARS, Florida. The saturated map will form a genetic platform to develop quantitative trait loci (QTL) for genes of interest to improve breeding efficiency and speed up the inclusion of new favourable traits in new varieties.

Gene markers identified in the map will be assessed in Australian hybrid progeny populations from the Australian Mango Breeding Program for proof of concept. If successful, these markers will represent new molecular tools for genetic profiling of breeding populations and improved breeding efficiency.

The project will also undertake detailed phenotypic profiling of mango breeding populations to identify the range of tree architecture, fruit quality and colour traits

among them. This information will facilitate the testing of newly identified gene markers and help identify trees suited to high density and high productivity orchard systems.

Researchers expect that this improved breeding efficiency will lead to new mango cultivars with improved production and fruit quality characteristics, leading to the release of new competitive mango varieties that are suited to future Australian production systems. This will improve the mango industry’s ability to compete nationally and internationally.

This project was funded by voluntary contributions.

Project MG12015

For more information contact: Dr ian Bally, DAFF Qld T 0419 679 463 e ian.bally@daff.qld.gov.au

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mango marketingThe key objectives of the integrated marketing campaign were to:

• Position iconic Australian mangoes as being associated with summer and fun

• Appeal to consumers’ sense of emotions

• Sustain consumer interest in mangoes throughout the season (October to March)

• Leverage first case auctions in Sydney and Brisbane

• Generate positive media, retail, trade and industry exposure

• Drive consumer education:

• ‘Know your mangoes: education of different varieties of mangoes

• Versatility: communicate usage ideas and occasions

mango mess-tivalOn the first Sunday of summer 2013, the Mango Mess-tival was held at the iconic Bondi Beach. The Mango Mess-tival is a fundraising event for the NBSLSC that celebrates mangoes, summer and fun.

Building on the success of the 2012 event, the Australian mango industry continued to partner with the North Bondi Surf Live Saving club (NBSLSC) to celebrate the official arrival of summer and the peak mango supply season.

Giant inflatable mangoes were also out at sea and they could be seen from neighbouring suburbs a few kilometres away.

Mangoes were integrated into the nippers Sunday activities on the beach. Children of all ages competed in mango-based challenges including a mango relay, flag races and eating competitions.

In front of the club house, mango varietal stands were on display showcasing the four main varieties: Kensington Pride, Calypso™, Honey Gold and R2E2. Thousands of consumers and mango lovers had the opportunity to sample the four different varieties.

The scale of the Mess-tival grew five times in size based on the previous year – in physical space, representation on the beach, consumer attendance and the number of nippers that participated in the mango activities.

The funds raised in the Mango Mess-tival in 2012 went towards the construction of a new NBSLSC club house. With the completion of the new club house, the Mess-tival had a prominent position in front of the building, which is located on the popular beach.

The North Bondi nippers program is one of the largest Surf Life Saving programs in the country with over 1,500 nippers aged five to 13. Around 700 of the 1,500 nippers participated in the Mango Mess-tival challenges in 2013 and 6,500 mango samples were distributed on the day, compared to 1,200 samples in 2012.

Channel 9’s today showTo drive national media traction, live TV coverage during six weather segments on Channel 9’s Today Show was hosted by media and racing personality Emma Friedman. The weather crosses provided live coverage on the Saturday prior to the Mess-tival to encourage Sydneysiders to come down and join the Mess-tival.

The segments featured mango varietal display stands, a mango BBQ demonstration, an

interview with the Chair of the Australian Mango Industry Association Board and nippers activities on the beach, which culminated into a highly entertaining and impactful nippers mango eating competition.

The national audience reach was in excess of 2.3 million and the coverage equated to more than $1.5 million in advertising dollar terms.

mess-tival targeted local bondi retailer integration programA targeted local Bondi retailer integration program was conducted to drive community support for the Mango Mess-tival.

The retailer integration program initially involved an audit of green grocers within a one kilometre radius of the Bondi vicinity. Seven stores were identified and the industry’s representatives individually engaged each of the stores. The retailers were extremely receptive and all the stores approached participated in the retailer program.

The program involved:

• Point-of-sale material including bunting, brochures and posters

• Mango Mess-tival branded T-shirts to be worn by staff on the day of the Mess-tival to increase the event’s exposure

• A sign with the Mess-tival’s details displayed at the entrance of those

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stores to entice the locals to come to the Mess-tival

• “Proud Supporter of the Mess-tival” posters displayed in the stores.

One of the participating retailers has 23 stores in NSW and is known as a fresh produce specialist. The retailer provided strong support to the category by promoting mango tray sales on pallets. During the week of the Mess-tival, the business recorded sales in excess of 1,000 trays a day at its peak.

media engagementMedia contacts across TV, radio, magazines, newspapers and bloggers were proactively engaged with a media kit containing mango recipes, seasonal information, industry and consumption statistics, mango varietal information and images.

A selection of top media contacts were also provided with a tray of mangoes, as well as the media kit.

social mediaA content strategy aligned with the broader program was developed to reinforce key messages such as mango varietal education, recipes to inspire consumers, interesting facts and statistics about mangoes throughout the mango season.

The level of engagement from Aussie Mangoes facebook fans is extremely high – they often like, post and share content.

A 20-week facebook giveaway promotion was devised as an audience engagement tool. The promotion involved consumers posting answers to a different weekly question relating to all things mangoes, such as how they use mangoes at Christmas and their favourite mango childhood memory.

An advertising strategy to increase the page’s fan base was also employed and this strategy has been very successful and cost-effective in achieving that goal.

At the start of the season, the Aussie Mangoes facebook page had a fan base of just over 20,000, which grew by over 100% over the season. This level of success is unprecedented given the level of investment and resources comparing to other facebook pages.

Green grocer merchandisingGreen grocer merchandising aimed to deliver the wow factor at the point of purchase and to engage wholesalers and retailers to gain category support.

Consumer research findings have confirmed that mangoes are largely an impulse buy with around seven in 10 consumers deciding to purchase the fruit once in store. The strategy was to encourage green grocers to merchandise and build large displays in order to build in-store presence.

The industry commissioned merchandising teams that visited the top 300 green grocers nationally. From the merchandising activity conducted over the years, it has become evident that large displays with attractive point-of-sale (POS) material assist in selling mangoes.

The merchandising team negotiated the placement of POS in 290 of the 300 top green grocers to enhance mango displays, generate awareness, educate shoppers, and to encourage new usage occasions to drive sales.

The industry also collected meaningful data via merchandisers this season. Kensington Pride mango is the highest-rating mango (88 percent), followed by R2E2 (70 percent), Calypso™ (48 percent) and Honey Gold (30 percent) in the green grocer channel.

Through the merchandisers, the green grocers also provided invaluable feedback to the industry. It was reported that the quality

of mangoes was varied this season. It was especially challenging for some of the green grocers at the start of the season when quality was registered as one of key area of concerns.

Cooperative promotionsCooperative promotions aim to maximise the industry’s levy investment where commercial initiatives that are aligned with the industry’s objectives are eligible for matched levy funding.

Of the funds allocated for cooperative promotions, 50 percent was allocated for

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marketing and promotion initiatives for the domestic market whilst the remaining 50 percent was for export marketing. The Industry Advisory Committee (IAC) endorsed the split as the vast majority of the 2012/13 budget was for the domestic market.

2013/14 cooperative applications were reviewed by a committee that consisted of Horticulture Australia Limited’s General Manager of Marketing, the Mango Marketing Manager, the Mango IAC’s Independent Chair and the Mango IAC’s Independent Officer.

To ensure that the applications were considered equitably, a set of criteria that were in line with the industry’s strategic marketing objectives was provided to each of the co-operative review committee members.

To ensure that there was transparency on funding as part of the condition of accepting the funding, the applicant was required to submit a detailed final report. Additionally, as the projects were using industry funding, a publish-ready abstract that outlined the benefit to the industry whilst still maintaining confidentiality was also required.

export promotionsExport promotions were predominantly developed and implemented through the Queensland government’s Global Market Initiative (GMI) program, Austrade offices and importers in Asia, as well as retailers and exporters.

Export marketing activities in Hong Kong and Singapore were organised through the GMI. The key objectives were to:

• Engage the entire value chain to provide a high quality product to the final consumer

• Increase mango exports and reduce product wastage

• Develop an electronic-based product quality handling program that can be replicated in new markets

• Build and consolidate relationships with key retailers and importers in Hong Kong and Singapore

• Build on the findings from the pilot merchandising program conducted in 2012/13 season in Hong Kong to develop a merchandising model that can be used in other markets and other industry sectors.

The Singapore merchandising program was conducted in collaboration with the retail chain Cold Storage to promote R2E2 and CalypsoTM varieties across 50 stores. The program ran from December 2013 to January 2014. In-store activities included sampling, POS support and staff training.

The Hong Kong merchandising program was conducted in collaboration with the retail chains Wellcome and Jason’s Market Place (the ‘highend’ store of Wellcome), across 60 stores – (30 Wellcome, 30 Jason’s Market Place) to promote Kensington Pride, Calypso™ and Honey Gold. The program ran from 2 December 2013 to 12 January 2014. In-store activities included sampling and merchandising support such as a ‘Best Mango Retailer’ competition, which provided staff training and incentives.

Results from the export promotions were very promising:

• In Hong Kong, mango sales grew by 100% in the Wellcome retail chain.

• Kensington Pride, R2E2, Calypso™ and Honey Gold had their own barcode and were displayed separately. As a result, it was estimated that the shelf space dedicated to the mango category increased by over 30% in the Wellcome retail chain when compared to the previous season.

• There was a significantly noticeable increase in Wellcome’s store manager knowledge of Australian mangoes.

• The gift with purchase promotion worked well in increasing sales in Hong Kong.

• There were some quality issues noted, which translated into high wastage rates. The recommendation from the retail chain was to purchase mangoes that were less mature.

• Consumers in Hong Kong are price sensitive and their knowledge of the different varieties of mangoes is limited. Pricing of the different varieties could potentially lead consumers to discriminate on variety so it is important to educate consumers about the specific attributes of each of the varieties.

Activities conducted in the marketing program were funded by the mango marketing levy.

Project MG13500

For more information contact: elisa King, HAL T 02 8295 2332 e elisa.king@horticulture.com.au

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Managing Q-fly with SPLAT CuelureRecent and ongoing reviews of registered agricultural pesticides have reduced grower access to pesticides that control a range of pests, including Queensland fruit fly (Q-fly), Bactrocera tryoni. There are a number of new products and strategies that are being developed in the USA and the Mediterranean region for other species of fruit fly that may be suitable for use in Australian horticulture.

In 2008, Vargas et al. tested a sprayable ‘attract and kill’ formulation consisting of a waxy dispenser, called Specialised Pheromone and Lure Application Technology (SPLAT) (ISCA Tech., Riverside, CA), in combination with the reduced risk insecticide spinosad and either methyl eugenol (ME) or Cuelure (CL). The SPLAT formulation of biologically inert materials is used to control the release of semiochemicals, with or without pesticides, and may suppress pests up to 16 weeks.

The amorphous and flowable quality of this highly adaptable product allows for an easy transition from small scale manual applications to mechanised ground or aerial application. It also lasts longer than gels and similar thickened formulations which have a reduced life in areas with warm temperatures and high rainfall (Vargas et al., 2008). SPLAT CL uses Cuelure as the male attractant and spinosad as a toxicant. This use of SPLAT CL is a form of male annihilation technique (MAT), which has been successfully used for fruit fly management in some countries but has often involved less benign toxicants such as maldison. SPLAT is also significantly easier to apply than most MAT systems, thereby reducing labor costs.

This project is assessing the efficacy of SPLAT CL as a management option for control of B.tryoni in a diverse range of susceptible crops such as mangoes, summer fruit, pome fruit, citrus, banana, cherry and avocado. A series of bioassays will investigate the effect of weathered lures on efficacy to assist in developing and optimising the timing of field applications. A series of field efficacy trials will provide data from a wide range of crops and environmental conditions for development of Q-fly management strategies.

In the contact and feeding bioassay, all Q-flies exposed to SPLAT-5% CL + Spinosad

weathered for two weeks were killed within two hours, after a maximum five minute exposure period. Lures were effective at reduced kill rates for up to eight weeks. Given the strong feeding behaviour male Q-fly exhibit towards CL, and that males had to be coaxed from feeding on both the SPLAT-5% CL + Spinosad and SPLAT-5% CL, it would be reasonable to assume that under field conditions male Q-fly would have access to the toxicant for a longer period than five minutes.

In the outdoor cage study, the longevity of the SPLAT+5%CL+ Spinosad was most effective after one week weathering, however this lure/toxicant performed as well as, or better than the MAT cups (Bugs for Bugs) across all weathering treatments (eight weeks weathering). These results are consistent with our prediction that under field conditions, males would have access to the toxicant for a longer period.

The results thus far suggest that SPLAT-5% CL+ Spinosad may be an excellent replacement for MAT cups as they contain both a softer insecticide and don’t require individual placement, but rather can be applied using regular spray equipment.

By the conclusion of the project it is expected

that there will be sufficient data to develop an integrated Q-fly management program based on MAT using readily applied SPLAT CL + Spinosad formulations. It is also envisaged that there will be other benefits, such as the inclusion of female lures together with the SPLAT technology.

The benefits will include the availability of an easily applied MAT technology with optimised field application that will lead to a reduction in fruit fly populations, minimise reliance on older insecticides facing increased restrictions, reduced disruption of beneficial insects and reduced secondary pest outbreaks. There will also be improved market access for national and international trade through a SPLAT-CL based program to support Areas of Low Pest Prevalence (ALPP), Pest Free Places of Production (PFPP) with reduced residue risks.

This project was funded by mango, avocado, banana, cherry, citrus and summerfruit levies.

project mt12001

For more information contact: dr peter Crisp, sArdI e peter.crisp@sa.gov.au t 08 8303 9539

Queensland fruit fly on mango

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delivering mango technologyAccess to relevant, timely information and training resources emerged as a significant issue raised by growers.

Stage two of the Delivering mango technology project (DMT2) is piloting electronic information delivery to build industry knowledge and resources, such as making workshops and online technologies available through the Australian Mango Industry Association’s (AMIA) website industry.mangoes.net.au. The site will also provide access to information that is currently hard to access or out of print.

The focus of DMT2 is to use the internet and multimedia technology to improve access to, and the adoption of, workshops and field days by mango growers and supply chain partners.

Based on discussions with industry stakeholders, priority areas were mango tree nutrition and the continued development of picking and packing training resources.

Developing a better understanding of mango tree nutrition is an issue continually raised by growers as requiring simplified, but accurate information. An hour-long interactive workshop on mango nutrition, titled ‘Food for fruit’, was developed in conjunction with four mango agronomists. The workshop was held twice as part of the field day at the 9th Australian Mango Conference, held in Mareeba and Cairns in 2013. Over 120 people attended the sessions and a copy of the workshop presentation was uploaded to the AMIA website.

The workshop was delivered again at the AMIA Roadshows for growers who did not attend the conference, and as a refresher for the coming season. Parts of the presentation were also used in the Mango Nutrition Workshop held in the Northern Territory in December 2013.

As a follow-up to the workshop, a six-page article was written and published in the Spring 2013 edition of the industry magazine, Mango Matters.

The nutrition workshop will be developed into a series of short voice-over presentations dealing with each of the nutritional elements discussed at the workshop and loaded onto the AMIA website. Complementary resources,

including a nutrition planner for each of the mango growth stages will support the presentations, providing a complete package on nutrition.

A first draft of the How to pick mangoes video was edited and uploaded to YouTube, prior to the start of the 2013/14 Mareeba Dimbulah season. The link to the video was emailed to a list of growers in the region.

The video has had 174 discrete views with 168 of these from Australia and six from Estonia. A grower in the Mareeba area employs Estonian pickers and packers each year and the link was sent to them prior to the commencement of the season, demonstrating the power of the technology and indicating the video is reaching its intended audience. An online questionnaire will be sent to the original email list requesting feedback on the video. The video will then be re-edited to accommodate any required changes.

Footage from the mango picking video will be used by the Northern Territory Farmers Association as part of their SapSAFETY project, which deals with the occupational health and safety issues associated with mango picking and mango sap.

Footage and the voice-over script has been shot for a video, titled How to pack mangoes, developed in conjunction with the project collaborators and growers in the Mareeba/Dimbulah area.

A three-page article on fruit spotting bug (FSB) damage on mature mango fruit, titled Will the real stem end cavity please stand up?, was written for the Autumn 2013 edition of Mango Matters. For many years, this damage was confused with stem end cavity, a physiological disorder of mangoes, causing confusion with growers and market agents as to the cause of the disorder and possible remedial action.

The redevelopment of the AMIA website to host all the resources developed in the project will make the site a ‘one-stop shop’ for mango industry resources and information.

This project was funded by mango industry levies.

Project MG10013

For more information contact: Matthew weinert, DAFF Qld T 07 4048 4651 e matthew.weinert@daff.qld.gov.au

Industry development achieved through effective delivery of research, development and extension, knowledge and information to growers

obJeCtIve 3

Staff training video on how to pick mangoes will be available from the AMIA website for the 2014/15 season

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market Access managerThe Office of Horticultural Market Access (OHMA) is an industry-based committee which was established to provide industry advice to government agencies for negotiating quarantine and non-quarantine market access. OHMA aims to maximise the opportunities for Australian horticultural market access through three key pillars:

• Raise the profile of Australian horticulture by developing target market relationships with an industry focus as commercial market access drivers

• Provide strong support to official access negotiations

• Identify, support and guide science inputs (research and development) into market access.

Chris Langley, the OHMA Market Access Manager, has worked to develop relationships with key exporting industries and government departments involved in the market access process. The Market Access Manager’s role is to:

• Work with industry to identify and set priorities and strategies for market access

• Develop and maintain close working relationships with relevant government bodies involved in market access negotiations to effectively represent horticulture industry views to government

• Communicate market access issues and outcomes back to industry.

While there have been some important achievements in the past year, the process of gaining market access for horticulture products remains a slow and difficult one. The usual lengthy process of securing phytosanitary protocols in north Asian markets was supplemented by a trend toward more restrictive phytosanitary regimes in south-east Asia (Thailand in particular but also Malaysia and Vietnam), as well as import restrictions in Indonesia. The Australian government has had a busy program of free trade agreement negotiations over a number of years, but actually finalising agreements has proved elusive. The recent conclusion of the agreement with South Korea is a notable exception.

Recent market access achievements for mangoes include the United States Department of Agriculture publishing the

final rules to allow importation of lychees and mangoes from Australia.

OHMA has held a number of discussions over the last year about how to improve the way it operates, including the possibility of expanding OHMA staff beyond the current one full-time position. Industry continued to see an important role for OHMA in prioritisation and coordination of industry market access issues, but industry resources were not available to expand OHMA staffing at this point. This will be considered again when the current OHMA project is due for renewal in September 2015.

This project was funded by mango levies as well as levies from the Across Industry program, apple and pear, avocado, cherry, citrus, lychee, mango, onion, fresh potato, strawberry, summerfruit, table grape and vegetable industries. Voluntary contributions were also provided by the Australian Nut Industry Council and Australian Blueberry Growers Association.

Projects MT12028 & MT12029

For more information contact: Chris Langley, Langley Consulting T 0498 723 103 e chris@langleyconsulting.com.au

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The Mango capacity building program was developed to deliver a range of activities to the mango industry in four key areas: communications; crop forecasting; biosecurity; and industry development. This project is now in its fourth year.

CommunicationFor an industry that is spread across much of Australia, targeted communication is important. The communications area of the program focuses on improving the monthly publication, communicating Australian Mango Industry Association (AMIA) activities, continuing the quarterly publication, Mango Matters, and a providing a range of grower meetings and workshops.

A mid-term review of this project highlighted the need for greater emphasis on communication. As a result, AMIA employed a full-time communications officer in early 2014 to improve access to information for all sectors of the industry, timeliness of communication and the content of all communication. Increasing the use of electronic media to improve the flow of information to growers and other industry sectors is a focus.

eventsIn August 2013, mango grower pre-season workshops were held in the Northern Territory (Katherine and Darwin), far north Queensland (Mareeba) and north Queensland (Ayr). The national Mango Conference was held in north Queensland during May 2013.

Workshop content included:

• National season outlook

• Industry benchmarking (cost of production)

• Mango quality issues

• This season’s research activities

• New varieties

• The season’s promotions

• Industry strategic planning.

These workshops enabled further input into developing the new Australian Mango Industry Strategic Investment Plan 2014-19, which was completed in early 2014

Further industry workshops were held between March and May 2014.

Topics for discussion included:

• Mango quality

• Resin canal discolouration research

• Fruit fly research

• Business benchmarking

• Access to pesticides

The industry website, industry.mangoes.net.au, will be used to deliver more information on research outcomes and issues impacting the mango industry. The videos, booklets, information sheets and planners will focus on picking and packing, pests and diseases, tree nutrition and canopy management. This activity is done in conjunction with the Delivering mango technology, stage 2 project (MG10013),

Industry focusCrop forecasting and crop flowFollowing a disappointing participation rate in the crop forecasting/crop flow system that was developed for the 2012/13 season, the system was not fully implemented for the 2013/14 season. The 2013/14 season highlighted the importance of industry having a better understanding of crop volume and crop timing. Work in the early part of 2014 was undertaken to develop the existing system and processes into a more robust and useable system. This information is being provided to industry during pre-season meetings and regularly through the season.

biosecurityThe industry continues to face potential threat from exotic pests and diseases. Diseases such as mango malformation and insect pests such as the red banded mango caterpillar are serious threats.

In 2011, AMIA contracted the noted plant pathologist Dr Greg Johnson to provide advice on the best methods of managing incursions. Greg’s advice provides the industry with sound scientific advice on a range of issues, particularly in relation to mango malformation. Since the initial incursion was detected in November 2007, there have been several other detections. Significant work was been conducted to develop a better understanding of mango malformation and its potential impact on Australian mangoes.

The Industry Development Manager, Trevor Dunmall, also participates in the Consultative Committee on Emergency Plant Pests,

Participants at the 9th Australian Mango Conference

21

Australia’s key technical body for coordinating national responses to emergency plant pest incursions, for any other pest and disease incursions that occur.

Industry developmententerprise assessment

Howard Hall from CDI Pinnacle Management has extended the Enterprise Assessment pilot project into a large project, increasing the number of businesses participating from 18 to 45. The project will continue until July 2014.

The results of the Mango consumer benchmarking project (MG13001) were presented to participating businesses and general information was presented at post-season workshops in early 2014.

mango export forumThe Third Annual Mango Export Forum was held in June 2014 and follows-on from previous successful forums held in 2012 and 2013. The workshop’s main focus was to provide an opportunity for growers, exporters, industry and government representatives to work together to gain consensus on the activities that need to be undertaken, both at an industry and business level to further develop Australia’s mango export market. The forum also focused on the development of the three-year mango export plan.

market accessAMIA continues to communicate with the Office of the Horticulture Market Access (OHMA) and the Department of Agriculture on biosecurity to develop market access to targeted export markets. In September 2013, the United States Department of Agriculture advised that approval had been granted to allow the import of Australian mangoes into the USA. The work plan that explains the operational requirements of the protocol is currently being developed for implementation in 2014.

This project was funded by mango levies and voluntary contributions.

Project MG10016

For more information contact; Trevor Dunmall, AMiA T 07 3278 3755 e idm@mangoes.net.au

mango Industry strategic Investment planThe Australian Mango Industry Strategic Investment Plan 2014–2019 will provide a clear direction for advancing the industry and define the key outcomes required from investing industry and government funds over the next five years.

The strategic intent of the new plan is to capitalise on the unique character of Australian mangoes in order to maximise market opportunities and profitability for growers.

During 2013, a series of regional consultation meetings were held with growers, researchers and other stakeholders to understand the issues impacting the industry, particularly where research, development, extension and marketing could assist in meeting the short, medium and long-term needs of production businesses and the broader sector. A draft plan was developed for consideration by the Mango Industry Advisory Committee and broader industry. Following feedback and adjustment, the final plan is now in the approval process.

At current levy rates, it is expected that approximately $5.5 to $6.5 million will be invested into industry research, development and extension (R&D) and marketing over the next five years. This is based on approximately $700,000 R&D and $450,000 marketing expenditure in 2013/14. One of the key roles of the new plan is to demonstrate to levy payers that their money is being and will be invested in the most effective way to achieve sustainability, profitability and growth for the sector. Likewise, the Australian Government can be assured that industry levies and matched funds from the Government are being allocated appropriately and are addressing their Rural R&D priorities. Importantly, this document can also assist in guiding investment from other stakeholders and provides a context for R&D that might be funded outside of the industry levy.

The plan recognises the need for the Australian mango industry to be “a sustainable, profitable and growing sector by producing and marketing a product range that meets consumers’ expectations, in regard to: quality; flavour; value; convenience; health and nutrition; food safety; and environmental credentials” and its aim is “to achieve this through continued investment in research and development, managing biosecurity, developing efficient and effective production systems and supply chains, and identifying and capturing new market opportunities.”

The plan focuses on the industry’s position and strategic needs within three key priority areas:

1. supply: ensuring a consistent and sustainably-grown supply of quality Australian mangoes so that consumers can confidently purchase Australian mangoes and mango products that meet their needs and expectations

2. demand: increasing demand for Australian mangoes

3. Industry capacity development: ensuring the Australian mango industry has appropriate relationships and resources to effectively manage industry development and build industry capacity.

Within each of these strategy areas are a number of sub-strategies that outline how the objectives of the plan might be met.

This project was funded by mango levies.

Project MG12011

For more information contact: Jenny Margetts, Plant and Food research Australia T 0418 215 176 e jenny.margetts@plantandfood.com.au

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Addressing provisional mrls for Japan and taiwanJapan and Taiwan require the submission of data packages to either maintain or establish domestic Maximum Residue Limits (MRLs) that act as import tolerances. The Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) in Japan is assessing provisional MRLs and requires supporting data. To minimise potential trade disruption support for Australian-based provisional MRLs was needed.

Input was sought from potentially affected horticultural industries on priority chemicals and MRLs requiring support in Japan and Taiwan. For priority chemicals, data packages are being prepared by the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) for submission to MHLW by the Department of Agriculture.

The first submission to Japan in was for the following chemicals: 2,2-DPA, albendazole, aliphatic alcohol ethoxylates, altrenogest,

azamethiphos, bacitracin, butroxydim, carbaryl, carbonyl sulphide, carfentrazone-ethyl, clofentezine, cypermethrin, diphenylamine, Diuron, dodine, ethylene dichloride, fenvalerate, fluazifop, fluazuron, flumethrin, flupropanate, furathiocarb, halofuginone, kitasamycin, maduramicin, MCPB, moxidectin, naphthalophos, norgestomet, novobiocin, omethoate, permethrin, piperonyl butoxide, pirimiphos-methyl, pyraclofos, salinomycin, terbutryn, thiometon, Triadimenol.

Each APVMA submission to Japan includes:

• A list of Australian MRLs for currently approved uses

• Copies of Australian product labels detailing approved uses

• Copies of toxicology evaluations

• Copies of residues evaluations that provide justification for Australian MRLs.

The next data submission included:

2-phenylphenol, bupirimate, clodinafop acid, daminozide, DDT, fenprostalene, hexachlorobenzene, imazapyr, methabenzthiazuron, metosulam, napropamide, oxabetrinil, oxacillin, oxadixyl, phenothrin, propaquizafop, robenidine, sulfatroxazole, tebuthiuron, temephos, terbutylazine, thifensulfuron, tri-allate, triflumuron.

The final data submission is planned for mid-2014.

This project was funded by mango levies as well as levies from the almond, apple and pear, citrus, macadamia, mango and table grape industries.

Project MT12045

For more information contact: Kevin Bodnaruk, AKC Consulting T 02 9499 3833 e akc_con@zip.com.au

building capacity in the nt industryA project that aims to build more resilient and profitable production systems in the Northern Territory is actively involving participants in setting the direction of their learning.

The project has a four-phase set of objectives:

Phase 1: Benchmarking participant production systems, management and experiences, and identifying practice or knowledge gaps.

Phase 2: Identifying priority areas for research and learning activities.

Phase 3: Implementing activities such as workshops, farm walks, research or demonstrations trials.

Phase 4: Evaluating participants’ reactions, changes in knowledge, attitudes skills and aspirations, and the broader impact of the activities delivered in the program.

Activities in 2013 included:

• Small group meetings to provide feedback

on 2012 achievements and to seek guidance on new learning directions

• Briefings on NT biosecurity laws and regulations for bushfire mitigation between neighbours

• Updates to growers on the technical aspects of a study investigating the effect of fruit quality standards at picking/grading in mitigating strike incidence in mangoes

• A mango leafhopper field walk for identification and current best practice management

• A workshop to revise individual harvest maturity estimations using heat-sum calculations and dry matter estimates

• Insect IPM workshops

• Initiating research to assess the causes of resin canal in mango

• The idea of a collaborative research program to assess the level of impact, distribution and timing of magpie geese

damage on Darwin mango farms

• Export development out of the Port of Darwin to Asia or the Middle East

• Kensington Pride fruit maturity colour standards for in-field and shed use

• Meeting of growers to participate in farm financial benchmarking

• Communicating learnings from group activities and initiatives and associated mango articles in the Plant Industries monthly E-Newsletter

• Mango Orchard nutrition workshops.

This project was funded by voluntary contributions.

Project MG12005

For more information contact: warren Hunt, DPiF NT T 08 8999 2143 e warren.hunt@nt.gov.au

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9th Australian mango ConferenceThe 9th Australian Mango Conference was held in Cairns and a mango orchard in Mareeba, Qld, in May 2013.

The three-day conference focused on a range of issues that impact the mango industry. Time was split equally between presentations at the conference venue and practical sessions and workshops at the orchard and packing shed. The Annual Levy Payers’ Meeting was held at the end of day one, in the packing shed.

Highlights the presentations and workshops at the orchard included:

• Mango industry benchmarking – Howard Hall, CDI Pinnacle Management

• Improving irrigation performance and management – Pat Daley, DWS Irrigation

• Spray application best practice: theory and demonstration – Robert Battaglia, Syngenta + Croplands, Greentech and Silvan

• Food for fruit: key nutrition requirements for mangoes – Ted Winston, Consultant, and Matt Weinert, DAFF Qld

• Using Robotics in field situations – Salah Sukkarieh, The University of Sydney.

Highlights of the conference in Cairns included:

• Food market trends: what this means for fresh fruit and mangoes – Steven Zanin, FreshLogic

• Using product differentiation to drive value growth – Lisa Cork, Fresh Produce Marketing

• The changing retail landscape and what this means for mangoes – Rahim Ladha, Nielsen

• Understanding mango consumers – Heath Adams, Sprout.

Sixteen sponsors and trade exhibitors attended the conference, demonstrating the commercial links that industry has developed and maintained.

Participants attending the conference gained a greater understanding of:

• The financial challenges of growing mangoes

• Crop nutrition and fertiliser application timing

• Changing consumer demands and opportunities to address these changes

• The latest research into fruit fly, fruit spotting bug and other insect pests

• The trends of research into rootstocks, crop manipulation and canopy management.

Articles on the conference and its presentations appeared in the industry publication, Mango Matters. The presentations are available to levy payers through the Australian Mango website, industry.mangoes.net.au.

This project was funded by voluntary contributions.

Project MG12700

For more information contact: Trevor Dunmall, AMiA T 07 3278 3755 e idm@mangoes.net.au

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HAl’s roles and relationshipsHorticulture Australia Limited (HAL) is a not-for-profit industry owned company. Its role is to manage the expenditure of funds collected by the Australian Government on behalf of horticulture industries.

In 2013/14 HAL invested more than $100 million in projects to benefit horticulture industries.

An Industry Advisory Committee (IAC) is established for each industry with a statutory levy and annual income exceeding $150,000.

The Prescribed Industry Body (PIB) for an industry is responsible for recommending to HAL the establishment of, and any changes to, statutory levies. The PIB for an industry with a statutory levy recommends membership of the IAC to HAL and must demonstrate how the skills required on an IAC are met by the persons they recommend for appointment to the committee.

For more information please visit www.horticulture.com.au.

productivity and adding valueImprove the productivity and profitability of existing industries and support the development of viable new industries.

supply chain and marketsBetter understand and respond to domestic and international market and consumer requirements and improve the flow of such information through the whole supply chain, including to consumers.

natural resource managementSupport effective management of Australia’s natural resources to ensure primary industries are both economically and environmentally sustainable.

Climate variability and climate change

Build resilience to climate variability and adapt to and mitigate the effects of climate change.

biosecurityProtect Australia’s community, primary industries and environment from biosecurity threats.

Innovation skillsImprove the skills to undertake research and apply its findings.

technologyPromote the development of new and existing technologies.

Australian Government prioritiesAs part of the Australian Government’s commitment to rural research and development, horticulture industries can access matching Commonwealth funding though Horticulture Australia Limited (HAL) for all research and development activities.

The Australian Government’s Rural Research and Development Priorities aim to foster innovation and guide research and development (R&D) effort in the face of continuing economic, environmental and social change. HAL’s operations are closely aligned with these priorities.

This chart shows the percentage of expenditure in HAL’s mango R&D program against each of the Australian Government priorities for rural research and development. Full details of expenditure across all industries is available in HAL’s annual report at www.horticulture.com.au

HAl consultation funding agreementThe consultation agreement between AMIA and HAL sets out the tasks each organisation will perform to enable the other to discharge its responsibilities related to levy payers and industry services.

Consultation agreement activities are funded by HAL using the Mango R&D levy and matched funds from the Australian Government.

These funds enable AMIA to undertake the Annual Levy Payers’ Meeting, conduct IAC meetings, attend HAL Industry Forums, HAL/ AMIA Executive Board to Board consultation meetings, and other formal and informal consultation between personnel of AMIA and HAL.

The full year consultation funding expenditure for AMGA was $37,528. This represents 2.42 percent of the total annual levy expenditure. Consultation funding in respect of R&D represents 2.82 percent of the investment in R&D expenditure and consultation funding in respect of marketing represents 1.68 percent of the investment in marketing expenditure.

Project MG13910

For more information contact: Trevor Dunmall, AMiA T 07 3278 3755 e idm@mangoes.net.au

iNveSTiNG iN AUSTrALiAN HOrTiCULTUre

Innovation skills (16.7%)

Technology (11.9%)

Biosecurity (1.8%)

Productivity and adding value (47.7%)

Supply chain and markets (21.7%)

Climate variability and climate change (0.1%)

Natural resources management (0.1%)

25

ACrOSS iNDUSTry PrOGrAM The mango industry contributes funding towards an across industry program that addresses issues

affecting all of horticulture. Details of the current program are listed below. A full report of the program can be found at www.horticulture.com.au/industries/across_industry_program.asp.

Project No. rural r&D priorities Project title vC or

LevyProject start

Project finish

Life of project expenditure

2013/14 expenditure Organisation Contact

Objective 1: To enhance the efficiency, transparency, responsiveness and integrity of the supply chain

AH12009 Partnering Fresh Produce with Retail - Quality Assurance Harmonisation

Levy 1/8/12 31/8/13 $143,500 $212 Kitchener Partners Tristan Kitchener 0407 827 738

AH12010 Partnering Fresh Produce with Retail - Joint Working Groups

Levy 1/8/12 30/11/14 $305,000 $43,446 Kitchener Partners Tristan Kitchener 0407 827 738

AH12015 Food Innovation Hub Levy 9/5/13 31/8/13 $28,166 $5,633 Food Innovation Partners

Russel Rankin 07 3289 4591

AH12016 Partnering Fresh Produce with Retail: Quality Assurance Harmonization

Levy 15/5/13 30/6/15 $337,307 $105,096 Kitchener Partners Tristan Kitchener 0407 827 738

AH13026 Retailer In-Store training Levy 16/12/13 30/5/14 $20,000 $20,000 Kitchener Partners Tristan Kitchener 0407 827 738

Objective 2: Maximise the health benefits of horticultural products

No active project in 2013/14 to report on

Objective 3: Positiion horticulture to compete in a globalised environment

AH09027 Investing in Youth Successful Scholarship Applicant

Levy 31/5/10 31/3/15 $80,000 $10,000 Rural Industries R&D Corporation

Margo Andrae 02 6271 4132

AH11009 Autonomous Perception Systems for Horticulture Tree Crops

Levy 1/5/12 27/11/15 $599,500 $120,000 The University of Sydney

Dr Salah Sukkarieh 02 9351 8154

AH12019 Horticulture Leaders - Across Horticulture Leadership Training - 2013 & 2014 programs

Levy 3/6/13 31/5/15 $184,323 $50,000 Strategic Business Development Pty Ltd

Russell Cummings 0414 929 585

AH13018 Horticulture R+D Showcase Levy 1/8/13 30/6/14 $46,889 $35,680 Horticulture Australia Limited

Brenda Kranz 02 8295 2317

AH13020 Horticulture Information Unit Levy 1/8/13 28/2/16 $250,000 $31,000 Horticulture Australia Limited

Pat Abraham 0438 474 758

AH13028 Australia Fresh - Across Industry Initiative Levy 16/12/13 30/12/14 $50,000 $44,789 Oliver & Doam Agnes Barnard 02 8011 4743

MT12029 Horticultural Market Access Manager 2012 - 2015

VC/Levy

1/10/12 30/9/15 $613,500 $74,839 Langley Consulting Chris Langley 0498 723 103

Objective 4: Achieve long term viability and sustainability for Australian horticulture

AH09003 Plant protection: Regulatory support and co-ordination

Levy 1/7/09 30/5/14 $995,061 $243,225 AKC Consulting Pty Ltd

Kevin Bodnaruk 02 9499 3833

AH09014 Across-industry climate research, development and extension (RD&E) activities

Levy 13/4/10 28/2/14 $60,264 $12,000 Horticulture Australia Limited

Brenda Kranz 02 8295 2317

AH10003 Horticulture component of the National Climate Change Research Strategy for Primary Industries

Levy 30/11/11 1/7/15 $157,500 $0 Horticulture Australia Limited

Brenda Kranz 02 8295 2317

AH10006 Pesticide spray drift in horticulture - a response to new guidelines from the APVMA

Levy 1/7/10 30/6/14 $20,000 $4,676 Horticulture Australia Limited

Jodie Pedrana 0404 314 751

AH11007 Developing an LCI database for Australian agriculture

Levy 2/1/12 1/10/13 $20,000 $10,000 Rural Industries R&D Corporation

Brenda Kranz 02 8295 2317

AH11010 Biotechnology Awareness in Horticulture Levy 10/10/11 30/6/14 $102,177 $9,941 Horticulture Australia Limited

Alok Kumar 0418 322 070

AH11011 Horticulture funding of the CRC for Plant Biosecurity

Levy 30/6/12 30/5/18 $3,000,000 $500,000 CRC For National Plant Biosecurity

John Austen 02 6201 2882

AH11029 R Provision of independent technical and secretarial services to the National Working Party for Pesticide Application

Levy 20/12/11 31/5/15 $100,000 $25,000 Plant Health Australia Nicholas Woods 02 6215 7704

AH13014 Horticulture for Tomorrow Review & Upgrade Levy 5/8/13 23/6/14 $43,228 $43,196 Horticulture Australia Limited

Brenda Kranz 02 8295 2317

AH13023 Industry Development Forum with International Horticulture Congress

Levy 17/2/14 30/6/15 $45,100 $2,923 Horticulture Australia Limited

David Low 0429 221 443

AH13025 Research to Support HAL Member Input to the HAL Review

Levy 18/11/13 28/2/14 $43,399 $43,647 Horticulture Australia Limited

John Madden 0421 274 076

26

ACrOSS iNDUSTry PrOGrAM

Australian Government rural r&D Priorities: Productivity and adding value Supply chain and markets Natural resource management

Climate change and climate variability Biosecurity Innovation skills Technology

Project No. rural r&D priorities Project title vC or

LevyProject start

Project finish

Life of project expenditure

2013/14 expenditure Organisation Contact

AH13027 Plant protection: Regulatory support and co-ordination - Continuation of AH09003

Levy 31/5/14 1/7/18 $892,748 $25,000 AKC Consulting Pty Ltd

Kevin Bodnaruk 02 9499 3833

AH13032 Response to Agricultural Competitiveness White Paper

Levy 1/4/14 30/4/14 $31,500 $31,500 KPMG Michelle Pawley 02 6248 1141

MT10029 Managing pesticide access in horticulture (cont from AH04009 and MT07029)

Levy 1/7/10 2/7/15 $1,261,460 $67,398 Horticulture Australia Limited

Jodie Pedrana 0404 314

MT10049 A multi target approach to fruitspotting bug management

Levy 1/3/11 1/4/16 $1,353,016 $40,741 Department of Primary Industries NSW

Ruth Huwer 02 6626 1196

MT10066 Project Coordination for MT10049 Levy 14/3/11 31/5/14 $42,984 $1,214 RCR Agri Pty Ltd Chaseley Ross 0409 707 806

Objective 5: Other

AH11003

Support Function for AIC Levy 15/9/11 30/8/13 $84,187 $35,000 Horticulture Australia Limited

Warwick Scherf 02 8295 2323

AH11017 Sponsorship of Appetite for Excellence Awards

Levy 1/7/11 22/6/14 $70,500 $20,000 Horticulture Australia Limited

Melissa Smith 02 8295 2340

AH11023 Graham Gregory Award and Function Levy 1/7/11 30/6/16 $151,500 $30,000 Horticulture Australia Limited

Sharyn Casey 02 8295 2379

AH11026

Across Industry Program Administration Levy 1/7/11 30/6/14 $31,800 $6,332 Horticulture Australia Limited

Warwick Scherf 02 8295 2323

AH13800

Across Industry Annual Report 2012/13 Levy 1/7/13 30/6/14 $15,000 $9,688 Horticulture Australia Limited

Barbara Knezevic-Marinos 02 8295 2318

MT12028 OHMA Operational Support 2012 to 2015 VC/Levy

1/10/12 31/5/15 $91,500 $19,594 Horticulture Australia Limited

Peter Whittle 0409 578 937

Objective 5: Other

AI12002 Transformational Solutions to challenges and issues facing the Australian horticulture industry

Levy 9/9/13 1/10/14 $500,000 $250,000 Intellectual Ventures Paul Levins 0419 239 180

AI13001 Dietary sterilization of male Queensland Fruit Fly (QFF)

Levy 1/5/14 28/2/18 $1,253,316 $100,000 CSIRO Biosecurity Flagship

Dr Christopher Hardy 02 6246 4375

AI13004 Transforming subtropical/tropical tree crop productivity

Levy 5/11/13 31/5/17 $3,089,012 $652,026 The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Qld

Dr John Wilkie 0402 390 885

AI13008 A platform for the continuous genetic improvement of accepted cultivars of vegetatively propagated horticultural crops

Levy 14/11/13 31/1/17 $2,025,439 $354,981 Queensland University of Technology

Dr James Dale 07 3138 2819

AI13011 Transformational Innovation Performance Analysis

Levy 1/10/13 31/12/14 $146,635 $117,308 The University of Queensland

A/Prof Damian Hine 07 3346 8162

AI13012 A Value Chain approach to horticultural product innovation

Levy 20/12/13 31/12/14 $265,430 $112,544 Central Queensland University

Philip Brown 07 4150 7145

AI13013 Direction setting Forum for a horticultural education strategy

Levy 24/2/14 30/7/15 $15,000 $7,968 Horticulture Australia Limited

Sharyn Casey 02 8295 2379

AI13014

Advancing Post Doctorates in horticulture Levy 1/6/14 30/4/18 $800,000 $0 Horticulture Australia Limited

Sharyn Casey 02 8295 2379

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MANGO PrOGrAM

Projectind-ustry obj.

rural r&D priorities Project title Levy

or vCProject start

Project finish

Life of project value

2013/14 expenditure Organisation Contact

MG09003 2 Mango Breeding Support VC 07/06/10 15/11/13 $459,965.93 $61,328.79 The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Qld

Dr Ian Bally 0419 679 463

MG10008 2 Reducing skin damage and improving postharvest efficiency of Calypso™ mango

VC 12/07/10 31/05/14 $2,784,924.70 $1,042,133.29 The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Qld

Dr Peter Hofman 0407 173 608

MG10009 2 Improving fruit quality and profitability of ‘Honey Gold’ mango

VC 01/04/11 30/05/14 $1,221,059.00 $407,019.32 Tropical Horticultural Consulting Pty Ltd

Ted Winston 0412 534 514

MG10013 3 Delivering information and technology to the mango industry (DMT stage 2)

Levy 01/12/11 29/11/14 $96,591.00 $34,432.00 The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Qld

Matthew Weinert 07 4048 4651

MG10016 3 Mango Industry Capacity Building Program

VC/Levy

01/01/11 31/12/14 $1,463,274.00 $261,145.50 Australian Mango Industry Association Ltd

Trevor Dunmall 07 3278 3755

MG11005 2 Systems approach to eliminate post-harvest disinfestation of Katherine mangoes for fruit fly

VC 01/11/11 30/06/14 $211,363.91 $28,175.83 NT Department of Resources

Austin McLennan 08 8973 9762

MG12005 3

Building capacity in the NT Mango Industry using small-group extension

VC 01/08/12 30/06/15 $36,800.00 $5,000.00 NT Department of Resources

Warren Hunt 08 8999 2143

MG12007 1 Data collection to facilitate supply chain transparency - stage 2

Levy 01/10/12 31/05/15 $243,270.00 $80,000.00 Australian Mango Industry Association Ltd

Trevor Dunmall 07 3278 3755

MG12009 1 Consumer Benchmarking Research Levy 01/03/13 09/10/14 $20,000.00 $0.00 Horticulture Australia Limited

Elisa Tseng 02 8295 2341

MG12011 3

Mango Industry Strategic Investment Plan

Levy 15/03/13 25/04/14 $80,200.00 $41,584.00 Plant & Food Research Australia Pty Ltd

Jenny Margetts 0418 215 276

MG12012 2 Manipulating mango flowering to extend harvest window

VC 19/03/13 31/05/17 $821,409.31 $131,523.39 NT Department of Resources

Dr Cameron McConchie 0419 884 037

MG12015 1 Integrating genomics into an applied mango breeding program

VC 24/05/13 09/11/18 $443,368.23 $0.00 The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Qld

Dr Ian Bally 0419 679 463

MG12016 1

In-transit ripening and prediction of outturn quality for mango

VC 25/06/13 30/05/17 $2,318,792.00 $466,591.37 The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Qld

Dr Peter Hofman 0407 173 608

MG12017 1

New fruit fly systems for mangoes and market access

VC 17/06/13 20/07/16 $417,562.88 $286,357.15 NT Department of Resources

Austin McLennan 08 8973 9762

MG12018 1 Identifying factors that contribute to mango resin canal discolouration

VC/Levy

21/06/13 31/05/14 $70,094.63 $31,071.54 The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Qld

Dr Andrew Macnish 07 5453 5984

MG12700 3 The 9th Australian Mango Conference VC 14/08/12 30/09/13 $100,000.00 $20,000.00 Australian Mango Industry Association Ltd

Trevor Dunmall 07 3278 3755

MG13011 2 Mango Consumer Benchmarking Research - 2013/14 and 2014/15

Levy 01/09/13 30/06/15 $40,000.00 $19,959.00 Horticulture Australia Limited

Elisa Tseng 02 8295 2341

MG13015 2 Improving mango quality through accurate harvest maturity

Levy 26/09/13 28/02/14 $46,942.50 $46,942.50 Australian Mango Industry Association Ltd

Trevor Dunmall 07 3278 3755

MG13016 1 Improving consumer appeal of Honey Gold mango by reducing under skin browning and red lenticel discolouration

VC 11/03/14 30/05/17 $1,872,096.77 $84,558.16 The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Qld

Dr Peter Hofman 0407 173 608

MG13017 3 Capacity Building, Information, Technology and Extension for the Australian mango industry

Levy 20/06/14 31/12/17 $1,254,340.00 $160,000.00 Australian Mango Industry Association Ltd

Trevor Dunmall 07 3278 3755

MG13018 1 Mango Value Chain Analysis Levy 25/06/14 27/03/15 $49,869.00 $39,895.20 GHD Sue Salvin 02 6564 7721

MG13501 2 Mango integrated marketing campaign Levy 01/07/13 30/06/14 $300,000.00 $287,296.87 Horticulture Australia Limited

Elisa Tseng 02 8295 2341

28

Projectind-ustry obj.

rural r&D priorities Project title Levy

or vCProject start

Project finish

Life of project value

2013/14 expenditure Organisation Contact

MG13502 2 Co-operative promotions Levy 01/07/13 30/06/14 $100,000.00 $57,110.52 Horticulture Australia Limited

Elisa Tseng 02 8295 2341

MG13503 2 Green grocer display campaign/promotion

Levy 01/07/13 30/06/14 $50,000.00 $51,892.83 Horticulture Australia Limited

Elisa Tseng 02 8295 2341

MG13504 2 Website, creative and contingencies Levy 01/07/13 30/06/14 $50,000.00 $47,248.65 Horticulture Australia Limited

Elisa Tseng 02 8295 2341

MG13700 3 The 10th Australian Mango Conference - Northern Territory

VC 27/06/14 31/08/15 $140,000.00 $60,000.00 Australian Mango Industry Association Ltd

Trevor Dunmall 07 3278 3755

MG13800 3 Mango Industry Annual Report 2012/13 Levy 01/07/13 30/06/14 $7,090.00 $7,035.02 Horticulture Australia Limited

Barbara Knezevic-Marinos 02 8295 2318

MG13910 3

Mango Consultation Funding Agreement 2013-14

Levy 01/09/13 10/08/14 $66,890.00 $66,890.00 Australian Mango Industry Association Ltd

Jane Wightman 0404 309 877

MT12001 2 SPLAT Cue-Lure based management of Queensland fruit fly

Levy 01/05/13 29/02/16 $443,140.35 $46,199.00 South Australian Research and Development Institute

Dr Peter Crisp 08 8303 9539

MT12010 1 Understanding the Purchase Behaviour of Fresh Produce Consumers

Levy 01/07/12 30/06/14 $1,023,359.00 $31,296.02 The Nielsen Company Elisa Tseng 02 8295 2341

MT12028 3 OHMA Operational Support 2012 to 2015

VC/Levy

01/10/12 31/05/15 $91,500.00 $2,220.66 Horticulture Australia Limited

Peter Whittle 0409 578 937

MT12029 3 Horticultural Market Access Manager 2012 - 2015

VC/Levy

01/10/12 30/09/15 $613,500.00 $11,131.38 Langley Consulting Chris Langley 0498 723 103

MT12045 3 Submission to authorities in Japan and Taiwan addressing provisional MRLs

Levy 26/03/13 31/05/15 $46,000.00 $3,105.00 AKC Consulting Pty Ltd Kevin Bodnaruk 02 9499 3833

MT13045 1 Fourth Australia- China Cooperation Forum

Levy 11/11/13 30/04/14 $14,500.00 $1,794.98 Langley Consulting Chris Langley 0498 723 103

Rod Dalton (Chair)

Christine Hawkins

Timothy Elliott

Robert Gray

Ross Maxwell

Joe Moro

Gavin Scurr

Trevor Dunmall (Ex-Officio)

Jane Wightman (Ex-Officio)

Horticulture Australia Limited (HAL) Level 7, 179 elizabeth Street Sydney NSw 2000 T 02 8295 2300 F 02 8295 2399 www.horticulture.com.au

Jane Wightman Industry Services Manager Horticulture Australia Limited (HAL)

Suite 2, Level 5, 87 Wickham Tce Spring Hill QLD 4000

t 0404 309 877 e jane.wightman@horticulture.com.au

mango Industry Advisory

Committee (IAC)For more information contact:

year ended 30 June 2014 Marketing 2013/2014 $

r&D 2013/2014 $

Combined 2013/2014 $

Funds Available 1 July 2013 406,113 267,243 673,356

income

Levies Received 517,006 387,755 904,761

Commonwealth Contributions 486,625 486,625

Other Income 12,258 7,720 19,978

Total income 529,264 882,100 1,411,364

Budget 496,480 770,396 1,266,876

Variance to Budget 32,784 111,704 144,488

Program investment

Levy Programs 470,319 864,183 1,334,502

Service Delivery Programs by HAL 57,536 109,067 166,603

Across Industry Contribution 19,002 19,002

Levy Collection Costs 15,157 15,157 30,314

Total investment 543,012 1,007,409 1,550,421

Budget 613,754 844,404 1,458,158

Variance to Budget 70,742 (163,005) (92,263)

Annual Surplus/Deficit (13,748) (125,309) (139,057)

Closing Balance 30 June 2014 392,365 141,934 534,299

MANGO Levy iNveSTMeNT SUMMAry