The state-of-art post-harvest treatment facility will provide inspection, quarantine and treatment of fruit and vegetable produce
The Australian and South Australian Governments, along with the South Australian Produce Market, are investing $50 million in developing a biosecurity facility, based in Pooraka, in Adelaide’s northern suburbs.
A state first for South Australia, the post-harvest treatment facility will provide inspection, quarantine and treatment of fruit and vegetable produce which is vital for exporting SA’s produce globally.
The facility will use pressure cooling and treatment technology and will be the largest-scale multi-treatment and inspection facility in South Australia. Built on the site of the SA Produce Market at Burma Road, Pooraka, the facility will play a vital role in protecting and expanding the state’s growing $1.4 billion horticultural industry.
Once completed the project will unlock an additional $119M in fresh produce exports over a 5-year period creating 172 direct and indirect on-going jobs and assist in cost reduction for the state’s primary producers. With construction commencing in February 2024, this new biosecurity precinct will provide for a more sustainable alternative and has the ability to increase shelf life of fresh produce for export purposes.
Currently South Australian producers are required to send their produce to Victoria or Queensland for treatment. This new facility is set to reduce those transport costs and improve profitability for SA producers, which in turn will lower product wastage and help reduce the cost of produce at the supermarket.
The project will establish a post-harvest treatment service with pressure cooling and treatment technology, both of which are required to enable export of South Australian produce to more overseas destinations.
SA growers have previously faced challenges in selling to certain markets in times of fruit fly outbreaks. In 2020 and 2021 SA had a Med Fly outbreak in metropolitan Adelaide and is currently experiencing a prolonged Q-Fly outbreak in parts of the Riverland. There are restrictions within Australia and export countries on what produce is allowed to enter each state or country based on what pests and diseases are prevalent in the region where the fruit is grown. With the current Q-fly outbreak in the Riverland, produce cannot be sent from the Riverland to other parts of South Australia, Tasmania, or WA where Q-fly does not have a presence, unless it is treated.
The new biosecurity precinct will ensure produce coming from the fruit fly impacted areas within the State are able to be inspected, quarantined, and treated if required before produce is distributed overseas and to retailers across SA, WA, and NT. The facility will also support and grow key industries identified by the State Government such as health and medical.
There are restrictions within Australia and export countries on what produce is allowed to enter each state or country based on what pests and diseases are prevalent in the region where the fruit is grown. With the current Q-fly outbreak in the Riverland, produce cannot be sent from the Riverland to other parts of South Australia, Tasmania, or WA where Q-fly does not have a presence, unless it is treated. The new biosecurity precinct will ensure produce coming from the fruit fly impacted areas within the State are able to be inspected, quarantined, and treated if required before produce is distributed overseas and to retailers across SA, WA, and NT.