One of Australian horticulture’s most critical assets is the community of researchers and scientists whose careers are dedicated to supporting growers and advancing industry.

They are very much the silent achievers who don’t seek plaudits and accolades for their work that is pivotal in ensuring production and secure supply of premium quality produce.

Among those modest, unsung champions of the horticultural research sector is Dr Sukhvinder Pal Singh.

Known affectionately throughout industry as SP, the senior research scientist and adjunct associate professor leads the Horticultural Food Safety Research Program at the New South Wales Department of Primary Industries, which is focused on developing and translating new technologies and solutions to improve food safety and traceability.

As a leading fresh produce safety expert, SP promotes scientific evidence-based best practice adoption through strong engagement and trusted partnerships with growers and other supply chain participants.

SP has clearly defined his career-life purpose: “protecting lives and livelihoods of consumers and growers respectively”.

“No other research discipline could offer a better value proposition than food safety,” he stated. “I’m incredibly fortunate to work with our progressive growers who have a strong appetite for new knowledge and practices that are sensible, cost effective and practical.

“Adoption and change on the ground drive my passion for research.”

That passion is evident to all who are involved in and exposed to the beneficial outcomes of the numerous SP-led research and development projects of national importance, including food safety programs for individual industries.

Two of the more recent Hort Innovation levy-funded programs led by SP have been especially impactful in terms of the outcomes for growers and consumers.

The ‘Safe Melons’ partnership between Hort Innovation and NSW DPI, supported by Melons Australia, has involved all participants in the supply chain, including growers, packers, retailers, regulators and other agencies.

According to SP, growers have very much been at the heart of this initiative, adopting best management practices and relying on science and data-based food safety risk management.

Consequently, the program has achieved “zero food safety incidents and product recalls” for the sixth consecutive year.

Through SP’s leadership and commitment to the cause, the program has been an outstanding success – built on grower engagement and trusted relationships among all program partners who shared a common objective.

The most recent iteration of the Melon food safety and support program (VM20005) has just concluded, delivering direct benefits to 156 melon growers in Western Australia, Queensland, NSW, South Australia and the Northern Territory through food safety surveillance and monitoring initiatives.

As a result of the program, the melon industry has identified five transformational practices, among others, that led to achievement of the zero food safety incident target, and these are now considered essential housekeeping food safety rules.

The Safe Melons program has been represented at numerous conferences and national forums, with Melon Australia’s levy-funded industry roadshow continuing to be a key communication channel for on-site grower engagement and workshops where food safety has been a major agenda item.

Another recently concluded SP Singh-led program, Managing microbial food safety risks in the Australian citrus industry (CT20005), also achieved remarkable success in engaging more than 50 citrus packers throughout Australia, representing a network of more than 750 growers.

This investment delivered insights into the prevalence, distribution and pathways of microbial contamination. The identified gaps in industry practices will serve as opportunities to further safeguard the food safety record of the citrus industry.

Aimed at mitigating microbial food safety risks associated with the production, post-harvest handling and supply of citrus to consumers in domestic and export markets, the program developed a best practice guide to assist industry in addressing microbial risks.

Several technical presentations and articles were also delivered through various channels of communication and engagement, such as on-site technical visits, workshops, forums, field days, meetings and conferences. SP says the on-site visits were the most effective method to enhance the skills and knowledge of growers, packers and the key staff involved in quality assurance.

SP’s work has been incredibly well received by industry – take for instance the feedback from Costa Group Sunraysia divisional manager (citrus) Tania Chapman, as reported in the North West Farmer.

Tania says the “valuable research” conducted by SP was embraced by her company as it was consistent with the safe-quality focus at the business.

SP visited three of Costa’s citrus pack houses during the 2022 harvest/ packing season as part of the ‘Managing microbial food safety risks in the Australian citrus industry’ program.

“The company was keen to be involved in a project which might identify any potential issues or gaps in our own stringent systems, given our core values and business focus around sustainability, development and growth,” Tania said.

She said it was valuable for the company and for SP to have him working alongside key staff at the three sites, interacting and observing post-harvest practices and procedures to gain a full understanding of the processes and equipment involved. Fruit samples were collected from each location and sent for microbial testing as part of SP’s project.

Tania said Costa was delighted to collaborate with “a renowned researcher such as SP Singh”.

“To have him coming into our sheds and observing how we do our work, and to be able to offer us suggestions on how we could potentially refine our processes to ensure our fruit has the best opportunity is something our business welcomes.

“No business should be blind to the fact that things change every day, and to not open ourselves to experts in a field potentially blocks you off from making changes for better outcomes for both the business and the customer.

“Costa is proud to be part of the greater Australian citrus industry and to see brand Australia grow alongside our own brand.

“So the work which we have helped SP Singh facilitate around microbial risk – and which is now available to the wider industry – means every citrus grower and packer has access to the knowledge and the processes which can be implemented to protect those brands both domestically and internationally.”