CEO Update: Challenges and opportunities

As a strange sense of ‘calm’ and normality returns to our lives and businesses, we can again focus on addressing the challenges and opportunities presented to the greenlife industry nationally. 

As we continue to implement the member derived Greenlife Industry Australia (GIA) Strategy generally, we are addressing the most important areas of work as they arise and with the resource base available to GIA.  They can be best categorised as ‘challenges or opportunities’ and in all instances need member, stakeholder and industry support and advice on how to address them.

In a meeting between the GIA/NGI Presidents and Executives last week, several areas of work were highlighted.  My update this week is also a ‘call to action’ for you to provide insights, details, advice and support in addressing them. 

Challenges

COVID-19 ‘Snap’ Lockdowns – Businesses need to be ready if a ‘snap’ lockdown is called.  They are generally short but highly restrictive on business and personal activities and businesses need an action plan to be able to adapt operations in these situations.  A further contingency needs to be built into the plan if the lockdown continues or restrictions are lifted.

Plant Biosecurity

There are three specific examples of challenges currently.

1. Plant Quarantine for importation of nursery stock (plants, tissue culture, budwood) is presenting challenges to businesses with impacts seen in the process, time, disease, expertise and cost.  We have been advised of a number of specific examples impacting businesses but we need more to build a case for the Department of Agriculture, Water and Environment to improve the plant importation process. Please get in touch if you have an example to share.

2. Interstate plant movement and the different requirements for different states, in particular movement of plants and seed to Western Australia.  Again, any additional specific examples will assist in how this issue can be addressed.

3. Potential new production and treatment requirements for red imported fire ant (RIFA) zones.  The CSIRO recently released a 387-page report on the management of RIFA, with some significant recommendations and implications for the greenlife industry with the production and shipment of ‘potted plants’ within and outside the RIFA zone.  John McDonald drafted a submission that was submitted on behalf of GIA, challenging the recommendations being made, due to the exemplary record of our industry in managing potted plant production and movement in the RIFA zone.  GIA will work with NGIQ on how best to manage and ‘elevate’ the challenges and concerns being presented.

This is an extremely convoluted and multilayered area of activity.  Sonya Gifford is working her way through this maze with the GIA Careers Committee and outputs from the Nursery Careers Pathway project to turn this challenge into an opportunity for all of industry with a key development being the Careers Hub on the GIA website.

Given the unprecedented demand (6% increase in FY20) for greenlife over the last year, the challenge now is to maintain that demand going forward.  We need to keep new and emerging gardeners engaged.We need to continue the push for more green space in urban, coastal and regional areas. We need to have green infrastructure as a fundamental part of infrastructure and development programs and we need to engagement with Government to continue to highlight and demonstrate the health and well-being benefits. 

Plant Pals, Plant Life Balance and Green Spaces Better Places will help to underpin these activities, but you will also need to be advocates and promote the importance of greenlife in your businesses to your customers.

Opportunities

There have been a couple of ‘false starts’ with property identification codes (PICs) and a levy payer register.  Neither has progressed.  GIA has as a priority in 2021 to develop an all-encompassing grower and nursery business register that will create the database for management of plant pest incursions, plant traceability and other biosecurity issues.

Biosecurity and plant traceability are national issues impacting businesses across State boarders.  Responsibility for this register should sit within the industry itself and be managed and protected by the peak body whose entire mandate is for a resilient and adaptable industry focused on protecting your investments, developing markets and reducing costs.

GIA will work with the industry to ensure the register meets the needs of Members.  I would love to hear your thoughts on the register. 

Following the successful application for Federal Government funding late in 2020 by GIA and APCO, the PoPPr program is up and running.  The first stage is to develop the business case that will inform the design of the recycling scheme.  All businesses in the nursery industry need to be aware and involved in the program to ensure it is successful in addressing this extremely important industry sustainability initiative. Additional stakeholder engagement will shortly commence to help inform the business case. Please get in touch with me if you’d like to learn more about this and share your ideas.

The is a Government funded project being led by Greening Australia to develop a 10-year native seed production and planting strategy in response to the devastating bushfires over the Spring and Summer of 2019/20.  I sit on the project Steering Committee and there is an opportunity for native seed and plant nurseries to be involved and included in a native nursery network to capitalise on the opportunities to be involved in the revegetation, regeneration and restoration of Australia’s native vegetation. If this interests you, please get in touch so we can ensure you are included in the information.

Challenge  & Opportunity

Hort Innovation is in the process of developing the next Strategic Investment Plant (SIP) for the nursery industry.  The challenge here is to determine what are the key areas of R&D and marketing investment for almost $20 million over the next five years.  The opportunity is how the outputs of the investment will improve production and supply and maintain the demand for greenlife.  Do you have any ideas?  Please email me with your thoughts.

Call to Action

If you require any further information, have an interest, have advice, want to provide a comment and/or be involved in addressing any of these challenges or opportunities, please contact me at ceo@greenlifeindustry.com.au

This is an extremely exciting period of operation for the nursery industry and we need to address the challenges and capitalise on the opportunities.  I look forward hearing from you and working with you in continuing to promote and grow the industry.