Vegetable growers across the country are ramping up efforts to extend the shelf life of their fresh produce, reduce waste, and improve profitability by testing real-world postharvest solutions across Australian supply chains.

Hort Innovation has partnered with the Queensland Department of Primary Industries to improve how vegetables are handled after harvest, which is a critical factor in maintaining quality and meeting market demands.

Many vegetables are highly perishable, and growers often have limited control once produce leaves the farm. Supply chain delays, mixed loads and variable handling conditions can all reduce quality and shelf life, leading to losses and missed market opportunities.  

This project will test a range of emerging and commercially available technologies, including packaging, coatings, modified atmospheres, monitoring systems and temperature management practices, to identify what works best in commercial supply chain conditions.  

Dr Anthony Kachenko, General Manager Production & Sustainability R&D at Hort Innovation, explained what this means for industry: “Growers are already producing high-quality vegetables, but maintaining that quality through the supply chain can be a significant challenge. This project will give growers clear, practical information on what works — and what delivers a return on investment.”

Michael Coote, CEO of AUSVEG, said the project will provide important information for growers: “Vegetable grower profit margins are under a lot of pressure, so it’s crucial to get as much produce as possible to market in the right condition. When every crate counts, it’s welcome that this research will at look better protecting produce once it leaves the field and farm and help growers make more informed decisions.”

Dr Jose Roberto Marques, Project Leader at the Queensland Department of Primary Industries, outlined the approach: “This work focuses on testing solutions in commercial supply chains, so growers can be confident the results apply to their business. We’re combining scientific testing with industry engagement to deliver practical outcomes.”  

The research will take place in three stages. It will first identify priority crops and promising solutions, then monitor supply chains to understand where high quality can be extended and finally trial selected interventions in commercial settings.  

Growers will also benefit from practical outputs, including decision-making tools and guidance materials to help them assess the cost and benefits of adopting new technologies.  

The project will engage growers, exporters, transporters and retailers across Australia, ensuring solutions are relevant and practical across different regions and supply chains.

Key areas to be assessed include:

• Packaging and atmosphere management options
• Temperature and humidity control
• Ethylene management technologies
• Monitoring systems across transport and storage
• Coatings and sanitation practices.

The project will also deliver a web-based economic calculator, enabling growers to test different shelf life improvement options and understand their financial impact before investing.  

By improving shelf life and product consistency, the project is expected to help growers raise gains, increase market access and build confidence in both domestic and export supply chains.