After checking works at Shepparton’s Maude St Mall, Ms Green headed to Geoffrey Thompson Holdings on the former SPC Ardmona site in Mooroopna.
Works are well under way to repurpose and refit the site into a state-of-the-art fruit packing and grading factory.
Fruit grown in the Goulburn Valley food bowl and processed at the factory will be sold locally and used for purees and juices. Stock will also be exported to international markets.
The site will use automation and advanced software to operate equipment and help sort fruit for its highest value use.
“This project delivers big benefits to growers and local workers by slashing the cost of sorting, grading and packing fruit from the Goulburn Valley,” Ms Green said.
Next stop was the opening of the Tatura Science and Business Incubation Hub — a high-tech, digitally-enabled training and work space which is part of the Tatura SmartFarm and Horticulture Innovation Precinct.
The $1.25 million project provides a new home for Agriculture Victoria’s world-leading horticulture scientists, students and AgTech start-ups to come together and enhance commercial opportunities.
Initially, 38 new science and research jobs will be created at the hub, with a further 15 expected during the next three years.
As many as 10 agri-business positions will also open up as part of the adjoining Tatura SmartFarm and Horticulture Innovation Precinct.
While there, Ms Green caught up with senior research scientist Dr Raelene Kwong and her team, who have identified three species of weevil that could help control waterway weed Sagittaria.
Sagittaria has been invading waterways in south-eastern Australia since the 1960s, when it was imported into Australia from the United States as an ornamental pond plant.
Dr Kwong identified three different weevil species, also from the US, that could help control the grassy plant.
The beetles were imported into the secure quarantine facilities at AgriBio in Bundoora.
Researchers have conducted stringent testing of the weevils during the past five years to demonstrate releasing them would not pose a threat to native species or other important plants in Australia.
The scientists will now collaborate with farmers, community groups and waterway authorities to release the weevils and closely monitor their impacts.
When the adult weevils are released, they will attack the Sagittaria by laying their eggs in the flowers and fruits of the plant. Both the larvae and adult weevils then feed on the weed.
“Our Agriculture Victoria scientists are again leading the way to develop long-term sustainable solutions to help our waterways without using harsh herbicides, and have the potential to significantly reduce control costs,” Ms Green said.
Read more in next week’s Country News.
