Managed by Horticulture Australia Limited on behalf of industry, Horticulture for Tomorrow aims to help growers link production targets to their care for the environment as an integral part of their daily business management. It involves a number of programs:

• the H4T Environmental Assurance Project (EA Project), 
• the H4T Natural Resource Management Initiative (NRM Initiative) Phase 1, and
• the H4T NRM Initiative Phase 2 - Regional Delivery

Horticulture for Tomorrow has been supported by the Australia Government through the Natural Heritage Trust Pathways to Industry EMS Program (2004-2006) and the National Landcare Program Sustainable Industries Initiative Phase I (2005-2007) and Phase II (2007-2008).

The key objectives of Horticulture for Tomorrow are to:

1. Ensure industry ownership and awareness of environmental management
2. Encourage adoption of Environmental Assurance through user-friendly Guidelines that harmonise with existing Quality Assurance and Food Safety systems
3. Ensure industries implement pathways to addressing environmental management issues
4. Emphasise horticulture’s role as a responsible manager of resources and
5. Building on knowledge of the industry’s responsibility to NRM within a catchment context.

 Before the project commenced, HAL contacted its member organisations to assess:

• Attitudes to environmental management;
• Perceptions of the issues; and
• Concepts they might have for addressing the issues and ways in which HAL could assist.

A scoping study was commissioned to identify existing projects and programs, environmental management systems and codes, and the issues surrounding them in Australia’s primary industries sector.

The scoping study identified issues, opportunities and challenges facing growers, including existing EMS and environmental assurance programs happening within the horticulture sector. This work was completed by Genevieve Carruthers of the NSW Department of Primary Industries.

An Industry Summit was conducted in November 2006 with a team of industry advisers and technical experts from around Australia to explore environment threats and opportunities, and to help drive industry ownership of the program.

The scoping phase highlighted:

• deep industry concerns about the issue of environmental management and its potential negative impacts on growers
• doubts about whether HAL could bring any value to the issue by becoming involved
• confusion and concern among growers about environmental management;
• the importance of creating a sense of industry ownership; and
• the need to help HAL build stronger working relationships with its members.

To date Horticulture for Tomorrow has met 100% of its objectives, and achieved results far beyond expectations.

Phase One – Environmental Assurance Project was completed in June 2006 with all activities delivered on time, on budget and to the complete satisfaction of the Australia Government and industry.

At the launch of the final guidelines in 2006, the chair of Australia’s peak horticulture industry council said it had “delivered on every promise made to industry”.

Key outcomes of Phase One include:

• Scoping Study
• Environmental Assurance Guidelines
• Introductory Guide to Environmental Management
• Vision Statement

Phase Two – Natural Resource Management Initiative was completed in June 2007 with all activities delivered within scope and to the complete satisfaction of stakeholders.

Key outcomes of Phase Two include:

• Horticulture NRM Strategy
• Seven Regional Group reports

Phase Three – NRM Initiative Part II – Regional Delivery is still ongoing.