Horticulture is Australia’s third largest agriculture industry – in 2010-11 it was valued at AUD$8.74 billion. However, the Australian horticulture industry increasingly faces challenges including climate change, population growth, changing consumer preferences, evolving economic conditions, increasing input costs (land, water and energy), and competition for resources.
In addition, as affluence of developed countries increases, and as life expectancy grows longer and the global population increases, it may be expected that so too will the demand from global markets for Australian produce, particularly in Asia.
The horticulture industry needs to address these challenges by lifting productivity to be profitable, by being forward thinking, and by being market driven including looking towards emerging markets.
PVA has been formed to proactively respond to the future needs of the horticulture industry, and, in doing so, aims to help Future-Proof Australian Horticulture.