Media release: Federal funding for “plug-and-play” table grape traceability solution

Australia’s table grape industry will soon have access to a “plug-and-play” traceability solution designed to enhance customer confidence in and advance exports to Southeast Asian markets.

The Australian Table Grape Association (ATGA) was this week awarded funding within a component of the Federal Government’s National Agriculture Traceability Grants program focused on establishing robust traceability practices in Australian agriculture.

The grant will allow industry to demonstrate its continued commitment to delivering safe, premium grapes to Southeast Asian consumers.

The ATGA will deliver a “game-changing” project which expands on the table grape industry’s successful 2021/22 traceability pilot, part of the Victorian Government’s Food to Market Program, which saw the development of an end-to-end traceability solution for industry.

Australian table grapes are one of the nation’s top fresh fruit export products, and the industry’s 450 producer entities range from small family run farms to large-scale corporate structures.

ATGA CEO Jeff Scott said the project would address some existing challenges for traceability adoption by meeting growers where they are.

The plug-and-play traceability solution will be accessible to all growers, regardless of business size, scope, and traceability requirements, and will digitally streamline compliance and operational requirements through existing platforms.

“Australia’s table grape producers have refined their production and export management systems significantly over the past 10 years,” Mr Scott said.

“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 Pty Ltd, who will reprise their role after being involved in the initial traceability pilot.

Group general manager Michael Dossor said the innovative packaging and traceability provider was excited to continue its work in industry and to “further strengthen our relationships with both the ATGA and the broader table grape industry”.

“What started as a pilot in 2022 will now evolve into a comprehensive traceability solution for the entire sector,” Mr Dossor 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 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,” Ms Hutchison said. “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-work will take place from July 2024 onwards, with deployment across industry expected in late 2025.

Building Trust in Australian Agricultural Traceability and Credentials is a component of the National Agricultural Traceability Grants Program.

Find out more about the National Traceability Grants Program here: Agricultural Traceability Grants – DAFF (agriculture.gov.au)

Find out more about the Table Grape Traceability Pilot here: Traceability – Australian Table Grape Association (australiangrapes.com.au)

Find out more about Result Group here: Your Trusted Partner for Sustainable Packaging Solutions (resultgroup.com.au)

Media contact:

Terryn Milner
Communications Manager
Australian Table Grape Association
tmilner@atga.net.au
0438 316 339

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