The Innovation Seed Fund for Horticulture Development was a joint initiative between the University of Melbourne and the Department of Economic Development, Jobs, transport and Resources. It involved collaboration between social researchers from RIRG and DEDJTR (based at Tatura). This project was funded in the first round of ISFD funding and ran for 18 months.
Description of collaboration and engaged research: Researchers from UoM and DEDJTR worked collaboratively to address the questions of how advisory networks support investment decisions of pear growers within the Goulburn Valley. It used social network analysis to highlight relationships and information sources that growers find useful.
Impact and value: The study showed that growers find advice through a range of relational sources including their everyday interactions with other growers, advisers, service providers and marketing professionals in their network as well as a range of media sources including local news and the internet. Opportunities to strengthen the fresh pear network of the Goulburn Valley include more active support by government and industry organisations (including DEDJTR, FGA and APAL) to encourage networking opportunities between growers and with other value chain participants.
Reports, presentation link and published paper from this research study:
- King B.J. and M. Hill (2017) Mapping the extension capability of the Goulburn Valley Fresh Pear Sector. Extension Farming Systems Journal 9(1) pp 1-9.
- Final project report: Mapping the extension capability of the Goulburn Valley fresh pear sector, June 2016