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: Melon food safety monitoring and support - phase 2 (VM24001).

The objectives of the services being sought are to continue to build and support a food safety culture within the Australian melon industry. This will involve industry wide monitoring of food safety indicators and include the application of whole-genome sequencing technology; provision of technical support to supply chain members and development of resources and tools as required to empower growers and other industry stakeholders to effectively manage food safety risks.

In addition, the project will be responsible for investigating an alternative mechanism for food safety verification and forecasting within the industry, reducing the current dependence on R&D levy funds.

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