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SA’s vibrant protected cropping industry a winner
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Kaye Ferguson assessing the growth of a hydroponic tomato crop in one of the sites used to demonstrate conversion from in-soil to hydroponic growing. |
SARDI researchers will join vegetable and flower growers and industry experts from across Australia and overseas at the Protected Cropping Australia (PCA) biennial Conference and Exhibition to be held at the Adelaide Convention Centre from 3-6 July 2011.
Adelaide was chosen to host the 2011 convention over other cities because of South Australia’s vibrant and expanding greenhouse horticulture industry.
Senior Research Officer, Horticulture Pathology with SARDI, Dr Kaye Ferguson says SARDI is involved in several areas of research in the protected cropping industry. “We are developing a manual and have demonstration sites for introducing growers to all aspects of simple hydroponic systems. We are also involved in disease management, biological control and integrated pest management.
“SARDI also offers a diagnostic service and technical advice on biosecurity issues. Our booth will have handouts detailing research results, information on accessing the diagnostic service and information on biosecurity and quarantine.”
Dr Ferguson will be available at nominated times to get grower feedback on the hydroponics manual, while SARDI researchers Tony Burfield and Barbara Hall will also be available to assist growers with queries about pest and disease management.
Protected Cropping Australia is the peak industry body representing the interests of commercial greenhouse and hydroponic growers, an industry valued at around $1.3 billion at the farm gate.
The industry consists of commercial outdoor and protected cropping growers of important crops including tomato, cucumber, capsicum, eggplant, lettuce, Asian vegetables, herbs, strawberries, and a wide range of cut flowers, together with allied trades.
Historically, the Conference and Exhibition has attracted industry participants from all areas of Australia and the Asia Pacific region.
Australia is one of the few countries to have come through the global financial crisis virtually unscathed, with agriculture credited as a major influence on keeping the economy in the black.
Australian horticulture, and especially the protected cropping industry, continues to expand and invest in the future. The PCA event in Adelaide will allow the industry to showcase the latest in growing technologies and practices.
The exhibition will be open to the public from 1- 5pm Sunday, 3 July, and will be an ideal opportunity for consumers and city folk to learn more about how fresh food and flowers are produced using environmentally friendly and sustainable growing practices.
The SA Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries, Michael O’Brien, will officially open the Conference and Exhibition on Monday, 4 July.
Further information: Kaye Ferguson (08) 8303 9627 / Barbara Hall (08) 8303 9562 or SARDI Communications Terry Price (08) 8303 9433 or 0423 292867.
