Plant Health & Longevity
Identifying opportunities, gaps and barriers to regional ag-tech adoption and utilisation.
Project title:
Drought Management for the Health and Longevity of Perennial Horticulture Plants - Implementation of demonstrations spanning wine grapes, citrus and almonds
Activity information & objectives:
This project will identify opportunities, gaps and barriers to regional adoption and utilisation of agricultural technology (e.g., connectivity, producer awareness, perceived costs, cross-sector and regional technology applications).
It aims to boost drought preparedness and resilience capabilities of horticultural farmers and rural communities engaged in wine grape, almond and citrus production value chains across South Australia, southern NSW, Victoria and Tasmania.
The project will deliver and demonstrate technologies in commercial production settings to provide real-time information on canopy development and soil moisture, enabling optimised irrigation for plant health and longevity in water constrained settings, enhancing drought resilience.
Project funding:
Future Drought Fund
Project collaborators:
South Australian, Victoria, Southern NSW and Tasmania Drought Hubs
Status:
Completed (June, 2023)
Project lead:
Rebecca Wells
CEO, Mallee Regional Innovation Centre
+61 481059730
MRIC-info@unimelb.edu.au
Resources
- The technologies for this project are being demonstrated at several sites at the SuniTAFE Smart Farm. Learn more about the technology and demonstration sites.
- Project presentation by Rebecca Wells for local stakeholders and a visiting delegation from the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry.
- Enhancing drought resilience in horticulture, MRIC newsletter, November 2022