In an Australian-first, representatives of the organic industry have come together to co-design a 10-year roadmap to strengthen and grow certified organic horticulture production. Developed by Southern Cross University and funded through the Hort Innovation Frontiers program with co-investment from Australian Organic Limited (AOL) and all four national certification bodies, the newly launched Organic Horticulture Research, Development and Innovation (RD&I) Strategy 2026–2035 aims to double the value and impact of certified organic horticulture production by 2035.

Built from the ground up with more than 100 stakeholders spanning the entire supply chain, from growers and processors to auditors and retailers, the Strategy is the result of an 11-month national conversation about the sector’s research, development and innovation priorities.

With all four national certification bodies, ACO Certification Ltd, Bio-Dynamic Research Institute, Organic Food Chain and Southern Cross Certified, aligned behind it, the Strategy marks an unprecedented moment of unity and delivers the first ever proactive nationally coordinated research agenda for Australia’s organic horticulture producers.

The Strategy targets certified organic horticulture production as a high-growth segment of the organic industry, which contributes an estimated $2.6 billion to the economy.

AOL CEO Jackie Brian said the moment had been a long time coming. “Organic horticulture has a critical role to play in the future of Australian agriculture through delivering healthy soils, robust biodiversity, resilient farming systems and high-value products that meet growing consumer demand both here and overseas.

This strategy creates a practical roadmap for industry, research and government to work together to unlock the sector’s potential.”

It focuses RD&I investment across 36 initiatives derived from consultation and analysis, organised around three industry priority areas: building the evidence base for the Organic Value Proposition; Cooperative Innovation through a national knowledge-sharing platform, workforce capability and contributing to streamlined compliance; and Technical Innovation spanning biological inputs, organic-compatible biosecurity, and digital traceability. Together, these priorities aim to address persistent retail supply shortages across categories such as berries, avocados and fresh vegetables; expand export opportunities into Asia and the Middle East; accelerate the transition to lower-input farming systems and demonstrate the contribution of certified organic production in a productive and resilient horticulture industry.

Specific initiatives include nutritional and residue-profiling studies, biological pest control research, a national database of organic-compliant biological products, and a knowledge platform to ease grower entry and transition, improve research access and reduce compliance costs.

Certified organic horticulture has an important role to play in future food security. By building supply chain resilience through increased supply chain diversity, reduced input dependency and maintaining long-term landscape productivity, certified organic producers are well positioned to contribute to the National Food Security Strategy.

The launch of the Strategy marks a significant opportunity for government, investors and the supply chain to get behind certified organic horticulture, through co-investment in research and improved export access and government procurement pathways for certified organic produce.

The National Farmers’ Federation CEO Michael Guerin said: “This Strategy demonstrates the value of bringing industry, research and supply chain stakeholders together around a shared long-term vision. Coordinated RD&I investment will play an important role in supporting future growth, innovation and resilience across Australian horticulture.”

Professor Terry Rose, Project Leader at Southern Cross University added: “Southern Cross University is pleased to have had the opportunity to work with the project partners and lead the process of coordinating the development of the Research, Development and Innovation Strategy for Australian Organic Horticulture sector for the next 10 years. We were impressed by the level of engagement during the consultation process. The insights helped us identify key R&D gaps that can guide industry investment to drive innovation and commercial growth over the coming decade.”

Kari Martin, General Manager at The Organic Food Chain echoed the sentiment. “The Organic Horticulture RD&I Strategy marked a significant collaboration to position the organic sector in Australia for long-term growth, resilience and global competitiveness. We are excited to move to the next phase, where continued collaboration will bring the ideas within the strategy to life.”

It is now up to industry to work together to attract resources to translate the Strategy into funded, actionable research and innovation. To that end, the project team has recommended establishing an independent, industry-led Organic Horticulture RD&I Working Group.

AOL has today opened an Expression of Interest (EOI) process for founding members. Applications are sought from all parts of the supply chain, from growers and producers to auditors and retailers. Submissions close 30 June 2026.

The Strategy and Working Group Expression of Interest form are both available here.

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