Data, the key to a national industry voice
Collecting data about nursery production is challenging, due largely to the diversity of the industry and the number of times plants can be sold before reaching the end user. Whether you are a business operating in the nursery and garden industry in Australia, a key stakeholder representing industry interests or a commercial enterprise looking to engage with businesses in the industry, the lack of accurate data makes it difficult to plan for the future. This Nursery Paper looks at why the nursery and garden industry should embrace the capture and sharing of information. Through commentary from a leading industry grower, it examines how the benefits of industry data for individual businesses can outweigh concerns around sharing information. A new project addressing industry data needs is underway. The consortium of Nursery and Garden Industry Australia (NGIA), ACIL Allen Consulting and Down to Earth Research is on a mission to collect statistics accurately and in enough detail to track industry performance over time, assess market trends, and prioritise spending for the future.