Dried grape production innovation and adoption program 2021-2026 (DG21000)
What's it all about?
Continuing the work of its predecessor, Dried grape production innovation and adoption program 2018-2021 (DG17001), this project is assisting dried grape producers access and share leading and emerging research and knowledge on production techniques to grow skills, improve productivity and keep quality high.
Program activities include workshops, seminars, development of fact sheets, field walks and focus groups for growers. These events typically focus on a mixture of technologies and ideas new to the industry along with development within existing properties and production systems.
The program is also tasked with delivering a range of learning materials through the Dried Fruits Australia online learning platform, and has a benchmarking component as well. This work will provide industry with benchmarks of production per hectare, production practices, prices received and input costs, and will track overall industry productivity growth.
Over the last six months, the project has delivered five events to producers focusing on:
- Yield
- Technology in horticulture
- Innovations to dried grape trellis systems
- A focus on mechanised pruning
These events have delivered on priority areas determined by the dried grape industry to boost production and long-term sustainability of the industry.
New investment has been supported through the utilisation of GrapeInvest and the distribution of Dried Grape Best Practice Guides to those eager to expand existing holdings as well as enquiries.
Dried Fruits Australia’s evaluation framework was used to gather information on the changes in knowledge, attitude, skills, and aspirations of participants at the events, with a combined pre and post survey.
The average scores across the evaluations indicate that:
- The quality of the information is seen as good with a score of 4.9/5
- The information is useful with a score of 4.9/5
- Participants intend to use the information generated in their business with a score of 4.8/5
Other relevant information that has been produced in this reporting including articles in Vine magazine’s August and November 2022 editions.
August: read here.
- “10 Tonne Project Grows” (page 4)
- “New Beginnings” (page 11)
- “Top Crop Reaps Rewards” (page 25)
- “On The Cutting Edge” (page 26)
November: read here.
- “New Team to Support Industry” (page 8)
- “Welcome Return to Issue” (page 12)
- “Innovation paves way for industry efficiency” (page 16)
- “Investing In the Future” (page 22)
- “Alerts for Vine Health” (page 23)
Over the last six months, the project team have delivered five events to producers focussing on yield, technology in horticulture, innovations to trellis systems and a focus on mechanised pruning. These events have delivered key information on priority areas determined by the dried grape industry to boost production and the long-term sustainability of the industry.
This project is a strategic levy investment in the Hort Innovation Dried Grape Fund