Request for Proposal: An integrated disease management program for the Australian potato industry

Horticulture Innovation Australia (Hort Innovation) is a not-for-profit, grower-owned Research and Development Corporation (RDC) for Australia’s $16.3 billion horticulture industry. Hort Innovation invests around $120 million in research and development (R&D) and marketing programs annually to provide benefit to industry and the wider community.

Hort Innovation is seeking a suitably qualified, experienced and capable delivery partner for the project: An integrated disease management program for the Australian Potato Industry (PT23002).

This investment focuses on a range of economically important diseases including powdery scab, common scab, pink rot, blackleg, Rhizoctonia, verticillium wilt and black dot. The aims are to develop new approaches to reduce disease impacts by reducing inoculum build-up, inhibiting infection and disease development, and preserving the effectiveness of the available chemistries.

The investment will be underpinned by three related research pillars:

• Disease diagnostics

• Soil health

• Disease management.

Combined, these research pillars will inform the development of innovative resources and tools which will be delivered and assisted through a fourth pillar dedicated towards coordination and communication.

Hort Innovation has prepared a Request for Proposal (RFP) document that provides background information, outlines the scope of services, the procurement process and the information required from interested parties.