<p>Horticulture Research Program Strategy Global context/trends Horticulture crops provide staple foods, herbs, medicinal and extractive crops and ornamental species. The diversity of species cultured, and the range of uses, requires integrated and system-based approaches to research. Many horticulture species— particularly fruits and vegetables—are seasonal, offering potential for premium prices. Biosecurity factors are the main barriers for smallholders seeking to grow produce for markets. Product quality, postharvest handling and storage, and commercial imperatives have direct implications for market entry, and are the main barriers to smallholders supplying markets. Similar factors play a role in the development of export value chains, particularly disease issues. International 'fit' For smallholder farmers the main challenge is matching potential market demand to sustainable supply, with a focus on high-value crops. Horticulture crops can be a supplement to existing agricultural production to support diversification, and a means of increasing incomes as smallholders focus on becoming suppliers to markets. The challenges for research are two-fold: increasing productivity on-farm through a focus on quality through integrated crop management, disease and pest control and postharvest storage and management; and beyond the farm focusing on biosecurity, export development and commercialisation of new products. Research themes Research themes Priority research areas Identification and development Development of potential new high-value horticultural crops of crop and product for both intensive and extensive systems. diversification opportunities: Identification and development of value-adding, transformation and processing opportunities. Improvement of product quality. Evaluation and introduction of new and novel cultivars Development and Identification and development of appropriate sustainable, implementation of sustainable best-practice crop-production management techniques. integrated crop-production Development and implementation of integrated approaches systems: to crop production. Increased productivity, product Identification of constraints to increased productivity and quality and reduction of development and implementation of interventions to postharvest losses: overcome these. Identification of product quality and postharvest losses and development of integrated solutions to overcome these. Domestication and Identification of potential indigenous species with commercialisation of native horticultural/commercial potential. horticultural species: Development of appropriate integrated crop management systems. Commercialisation of Development of integrated production systems to transition production systems: farmers from subsistence to formal market production. Individual and Institutional Development of horticultural R&D capacity in researchers, capacity building in extension officers, technicians and appropriate institutions. horticultural R&D and Development of best-practice horticultural-production skills horticultural production: in public and private sector practitioners and institutions. Countries Country % of budget: active projects Horticulture Research Program Strategy Indonesia 25.3 Philippines 9.5 Pakistan 45.0 Bhutan 4.2 Cambodia/Laos/Thailan 4.6 d Papua New 6.0 Guinea/Pacific island countries Africa 5.4</p><p>Delivery on corporate goals ACIAR goal, to Contributions of projects in the Horticulture program improve: (examples) Food and nutrition  Increasing production of crops through implementation of security. integrated crop management practices and on-farm best bet practices. Productivity and  Managing pests and diseases of horticulture crops. resilience of crop,  Implementation of crop-management practices for livestock, forestry and improved production. fisheries systems. Smallholder and  Linking smallholders into value chains, including through community a focus on export value chains. livelihoods.  Research to improve livelihoods through strengthening indigenous produce and new crops and industries such as floriculture. Animal and plant  Technological biosecurity research and training for biosecurity. improved plant diagnostics.  Development and use of biocontrols for pests. Individual and  In-project training and development of research institutional R&D partners. capacity.</p><p>Future focus The Horticulture program will continue to focus on the development of resilient, enduring and appropriate research and development partnerships. Where appropriate, regional expertise will be a feature of these partnerships. Integrated and sustainable system-based approaches will be used, including a consideration of wider development and social contexts (e.g. gender). Given the importance of biosecurity and its implications on export access, a strong focus on capacity building will be integrated into project delivery. Programs and projects will seek to adopt multidisciplinary approaches, with participatory project/program identification, design and execution the central theme. Research Program Manager: Mr Richard Markham Phone: + 61 2 6217 0530 Facsimile: + 61 2 6217 0501 Email: Horticulture Research Program Strategy [email protected]</p>