Simplot looks to significantly boost Australian vegetable yields
The company, which has plants at Ulverstone and Devonport, processes about 350,000 tonnes of Tasmanian- grown vegetables every year. The state’s processing vegetable industry has an annual farmgate value of about $22.6 million.
TIA industry development manager, Sue Hinton, who is leading the research project, said the aim was to improve production practices for Australia’s vegetable processing industry to help it remain competitive on a global scale.
“Simplot has set yield targets for key frozen vegetable processing crops including broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, green beans and sweet corn,” Ms Hinton said.
“Achievement of these targets will require average yield increases between 17 to 42 per cent over the next three years.”
The first part of the project involves reviewing production practices and identifying innovations that could lift productivity or reduce input costs. Ms Hingston said the second phase involved field trials of key innovations.
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