Centre to strengthen the government’s primary industries research capabilities
The A$9mn Centre for Australian Horticultural Market Access was officially opened in Ourimbah, New South Wales on 25 February, providing a boost to the industry’s R&D capacity.
The new Centre is an essential hub for research and development and will help develop major projects designed to strengthen the state’s A$3.5bn horticulture sector, which includes exports valued at A$432 million in 2024-25.
It includes state-of-the-art DNA-based tools identify foodborne germs quickly, increased laboratory capacity to support food safety R&D programmes and sorting technology to detect quarantine pests and diseases and improve fruit quality.
The Centre will help protect and grow New South Wales regional industries and markets across key horticultural industries, including citrus, berries, avocados, melons and vegetables.
It will also enhance capacity to support supply chain efficiencies, fruit quality and food safety.
The installation of new state-of-the-art research facilities and equipment includes technology to detect quarantine pests and diseases and improve fruit quality and to reduce chemical use and improve the sustainability of New South Wales horticultural exports.
It features a high-pressure washing facility to remove surface pests and contaminants, advanced controlled-atmosphere technologies and fumigation equipment to improve market access outcomes. It also includes upgraded and new cool rooms and fumigation facilities to scale-up research to semi-commercial equivalence and a new biosafety level 2 laboratory for containment of human pathogens with automated diagnostic workflows enhancing food safety surveillance.
The project was funded from the World Class Food and Fibre Stage 2 Program from the Restart New South Wales Fund and was completed in July 2025.
“For more than 130 years, New Sout Wales government research has helped the sustainable growth of our agriculture farming, fisheries and forestry industries,” said minister for agriculture and regional New South Wales Tara Moriarty said:
“We are investing in research infrastructure and activities to drive industry growth, the sustainable development of our natural resources, and to support innovation so that industry can manage the risks and take advantage of opportunities for the next century. Market access and fruit quality remain a crucial issue for the horticulture industry to continue to grow and maintain markets.
“This facility will be an essential hub for research and development to support projects critical to building domestic and export markets for New South Wales’ and Australia’s horticultural produce.”
New South Wales DPIRD deputy secretary of agriculture and Biosecurity Rachel Connell added: “The new Centre for Australian Horticultural Market Access will allow New South Wales DPIRD researchers greater capacity to contribute to the increased productivity, profitability and sustainability of the NSW horticulture sector.
“The facility will allow New South Wales DPIRD research scientists to expand on the important work of maintaining and improving market access and ensuring fruit and vegetables are at their optimal quality and safe for domestic and export markets.”
