Australia’s table grape industry is about to undergo a major transformation with the introduction of a ‘plug-and-play’ traceability solution, designed to enhance exports to Southeast Asian markets.
The Australian Table Grape Association (ATGA) has received funding through the federal government’s National Agriculture Traceability Grants program, dedicated to fostering robust traceability practices in Australian agriculture.
Result Group, after launching the initial pilot in 2022, is now creating a comprehensive traceability solution for the entire table grape industry.
Michael Dossor, general manager of Result Group, expressed enthusiasm about continuing work in the sector and strengthening ties with the ATGA and the entire table grape industry.
“What started as a pilot in 2022 will now evolve into a comprehensive traceability solution for the entire sector,” he said.
“To know that growers large, medium and small will be able to access a traceability solution is great news and will help protect Australia’s premier produce. This funding support ensures that we continue to lead the way in innovation within the industry.”
The ATGA will lead a transformative project that builds on the successful 2021/22 traceability pilot, part of the Victorian government’s Food to Market Program. The pilot established a comprehensive end-to-end traceability system for the table grape industry.
According to Jeff Scott, CEO of the ATGA, the project aims to address existing challenges in traceability adoption by accommodating the diverse needs of growers.
He said the new ‘plug-and-play’ traceability solution will be available to all growers, regardless of their business size or traceability requirements, and that it will streamline compliance and operational processes digitally through existing platforms.
“Australia’s table grape producers have refined their production and export management systems significantly over the past 10 years,” Scott added.
“Such sophisticated systems yield a wealth of information that is used for production, marketing, and compliance purposes. That information helps producers respond to market requirements and build trustworthiness along the table grape export supply chain.
“What’s really useful about this project is that we aim to integrate producers’ own systems with the table grape export platform, so that the data languages can talk, relieving some of the existing compliance pressures producers face and making traceability uptake easier.
“The ATGA is pleased to work with technology partner Result Group, who will reprise their role after being involved in the initial traceability pilot.”
The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry’s deputy secretary of agricultural trade and regulation group, Tina Hutchison, said the initiative aimed to support collaborative projects that build on the National Agricultural Traceability Strategy.
“These grant recipients are now working to significantly advance our traceability efforts in Southeast Asia,” explained Hutchison.
“That’s vital work to grow new and existing markets and build confidence in Australian products that are safe, sustainable, and traced through all stages of production.
“It is important that our Southeast Asian counterparts see how methodically we prioritise tracing Australian produce from paddock to plate.”
The project will commence in July 2024, with full industry deployment expected by late 2025.
