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Welcome to the Horticulture for Tomorrow website
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Consumers around the world are becoming increasingly interested in what they eat and how it is produced. Many of Australia’s $778 million export markets now demand proof that farmers are taking care of the environment and producing ‘clean and green’ food. On the home front, Australian governments and communities are becoming increasingly concerned that precious natural resources such as water and soils are safeguarded.
Horticulture Australia Limited (HAL) is the national organisation responsible for driving research, development and marketing for the extremely diverse horticulture sector – representing more than 17,000 individual fruit, vegetable, nut, nursery, flower and turf enterprises.
In 2004, HAL received a major grant from the Australian Government to help growers better manage their impact on the environment, funded through the Natural Heritage Trust. The grant came at a time when growers were facing considerable challenges to remain viable and compete against cheap imports and the increasing power of the supermarket sector. Many were anxious about the prospect of onerous environmental regulations and yet more systems being imposed on them, while others were keen to ‘do the right thing’ but confused where to start.
HAL decided to set up a project that would provide information to growers about the issues and develop Australia’s first industry-wide guidelines for environmental management. An added challenge was building working relationships with HAL’s 35 member organisations, which were not necessarily supportive of the concept. Getting them on board was critical to growers accepting and eventually using the voluntary guidelines.
Horticulture for Tomorrow was born.
This website provides information for Government, growers, industry leaders, general public and environment community in regards to major environmental activities undertaken through Horticulture for Tomorrow since 2004.
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