AUSTRALIAN MUSHROOMS JOURNAL - 2021 EDITION 3

WHAT IS THE BEST LIFE company to ensure the satisfaction of WHAT IS THE ONE PIECE OF
ADVICE YOU HAVE BEEN our clients, staff and stakeholders. ADVICE YOU WOULD GIVE
GIVEN? TO OTHERS HOPING FOR A
WHAT MOTIVATES YOU? SUCCESSFUL CAREER?
Nothing ventured, nothing gained.
But I prefer to follow my Golden Rule If you love your job, you’ll never work Persistence and hard work are key. Set
of: “Treat others how you want to be a day in your life, and the motivation your goals, ask plenty of questions,
treated.” comes naturally. don’t be afraid to ask for guidance and
wake up every day with purpose.
CAN YOU TELL ME ABOUT WHO HAS BEEN YOUR
YOUR POSITION IN THE GREATEST INSPIRATION? Keep moving, keep learning, keep
BUSINESS? growing.
My managers, past and present who
As a general manager, I get to interact have supported me and encouraged me.
with our clients, colleagues, production Without them, I wouldn’t be where I am
team and oversee all aspects of the today.







BEING TREATED AS A NUMBER
NUMBER
Machinery


Climate
Nijverheidsstraat 2a
5961 PJ Horst
The Netherlands
T + 31 77 398 39 29 Supplies
[email protected]
www.mushcomb.com
PROUD PARTNER OF
MUSHROOM VALLEY Engineering
Mushrooms Exotics Compost













































Australian Mushrooms Journal | Issue 3 -2021 49

HORT INNOVATION





ROUNDUP






FUND MANAGEMENT span (2022–2026) and is currently being investment decisions align with industry
developed through close consultation priorities.
The role of Hort Innovation is to work with growers, industry participants, and
with industry to invest the mushroom the research community. Update on refreshing the Strategic
levy and Australian Government Investment Plan
contributions into initiatives to help The AIP was developed with valuable
growers be as productive and profi table input from the Strategic Investment In 2021, Hort Innovation engaged with
as possible through the Hort Innovation Advisory Panel (SIAP), which is made growers and industry stakeholders to
Mushroom Fund. up of growers and other industry develop refreshed fi ve-year 2022-2026
representatives as well as industry SIPs for each levy-paying industry
What is the mushroom levy? bodies and other key stakeholders. within the horticulture sector.
The grower-raised statutory mushroom The SIP and AIP documents are used There has been a stakeholder feedback
research and development (R&D) as a 'roadmap' by the Mushroom SIAP period for all draft SIPs, and this has now
levy is set at $1.08 per kilogram, and and play a key role in prioritising closed.
the marketing levy is set at $2.92 per investments and ideas submitted by
kilogram. growers and other industry participants. Hort Innovation received a wide range of
Further details about the AIP, SIP and positive and constructive feedback and
These levies are collected by the SIAP can be found below. is incorporating this information into the
Australian Government and then fi nal versions of the SIPs.
entrusted to Hort Innovation. It is then Strategic Investment Plan
Hort Innovation's responsibility to work When fi nalised, the Mushroom
with industry to invest the levies – The mushroom Strategic Inevestment SIP will be published on the Hort
together with Australian Government Plan is the roadmap that helps guide Innovation website, and stakeholders
funds in the case of R&D – into strategic Hort Innovation's oversight and will be notifi ed via email and other
R&D and marketing initiatives. management of individual levy industry communication channels.
investment programs. The SIP lays
You can fi nd full details on the levy rates the foundation for decision making in Annual Investment Plan
on the government website (https:// levy investments and represents the
www.agriculture.gov.au/ag-farm-food/ balanced interest of the particular The mushroom Annual Investment
levies/rates/mushrooms-agaricus). industry from which the levy is Plan details how levy funds will be spent
collected. The most important function over a 12-month period. Investment
Where do investment ideas come from? of the SIP is to make sure that levy decisions will be guided by the industry

Hort Innovation encourages all growers,
industry participants and the research
community to share their thoughts and
recommendations through the Strategic
Investment Plan (SIP) consultation
process. Outside this process, ideas for
investments can be submitted at any
time at Hort Innovation's investment
idea form or by contacting a Hort
Innovation employee directly. 

Hort Innovation then reviews
submissions or suggestions to align with
industry needs identifi ed in the SIP. 

How are levy investment decisions made?

Investments specifi c to the Hort
Innovation Mushroom Fund are guided
by the industry's SIP and Annual
Investment Plan (AIP). The SIP is
currently being updated to refl ect the
needs of the mushroom industry better.
The new SIP will have a fi ve-year life


50 Australian Mushrooms Journal | Issue 3 -2021

SIP and prioritised based on potential resources available to access. The survey focuses on grower
industry impact and the availability of The Hort Innovation website provides feedback, including grower perceptions
levy funds.   information and resources relating to of Hort Innovation as investors in
Mushroom Fund investments. Industry research, development and marketing,
The AIP was developed by Hort participants are encouraged to visit communication and interaction with
Innovation, informed by the SIP the Your Investments page for details growers, and our information products
and industry consultation, and then of current and completed levy-funded and services.
discussed with the industry SIAP for work, and the Research reports and
feedback and prioritisation.   more page to see investment outputs NEW PROJECT PROPOSAL
such as grower fact sheets, guides and
Strategic Investment Advisory Panel research reports. Hort Innovation has released a Request
for Proposal for a project designed to
To gain industry insights for strategic Additional detail is provided through provide the mushroom industry supply
levy investments in R&D, marketing and the levy-funded Mushroom industry chain with access to the complete
trade, Hort Innovation consults with communication program (MU18001). In off ering of past communication outputs.
growers through the Mushroom SIAP. this Journal and the Industry Update
e-newsletter the Hort Innovation The Australian Mushroom Growers’
The SIAP consists of industry supply- Mushroom Fund logo is used to identify Association (AMGA) has an archive of past
chain stakeholders, most of whom are work related to the mushroom industry mushroom industry journals and other
levy-paying growers, including industry levy. documents not currently available to
representative body representation. mushroom growers.
Hort Innovation also delivers a range
The Mushroom SIAP is in place to of industry-specifi c and general The purpose of this investment is to
discuss investment ideas and advise communications. These include the digitise and index the available materials
Hort Innovation on potential levy monthly Growing Innovation newsletter so that the mushroom industry can
investments. The advice they give is with whole-of-horticulture news and preserve, access and search this valuable
guided by the industry's SIP. Grower Intel industry alerts sent as information.
needed.
The SIAP provides a vital link between These journals and other resources
meeting the priorities of industry HORT INNOVATION AGM hold information about past research
and helping Hort Innovation to make conducted by the Australian mushroom
decisions on how, where and when The Hort Innovation Annual General industry.
investments need to be made. Meeting (AGM) will be held on Friday, 26
November 2021. It is important that this knowledge
The SIAPs recommendations are used by is preserved and made available to
Hort Innovation to work suitable ideas Due to the ever-changing nature of the current and future mushroom industry
into project proposals. The proposals are COVID-19 pandemic, further details on participants.
then made public for potential delivery the format and location of the event will
partners to submit responses. be made available as soon as possible Greater understanding and knowledge
and shared with members in the offi cial about R&D investments and outcomes
At the end of the process, the responses 2021 Notice of Meeting, to be distributed will contribute to a better-informed
are assessed, often with the assistance in October. industry, which will, in turn, assist in
of industry (Evaluation Panel process), improving farm productivity and quality
and the best delivery partner for the At this year's AGM, Hort Innovation across the wider industry.
work is chosen. A contract is then issued, members will use their voting
and the work begins. entitlements to elect one or more The project is scheduled to commence
Directors to the Board and vote on other shortly and will run through until early
Keeping track of investments matters aff ecting the company. 2022.

Investments in the Hort Innovation All members who submit an Annual Levy
Mushroom Fund are detailed in the Your Return form will be advised of their
investments page of the Hort Innovation voting entitlements in October.
website. Resources that are produced
by the projects – such as fact sheets GROWER SENTIMENT SURVEY
and guides – are also available through 2021
the Research reports and more page.
Results from the 2021 Grower Sentiment
Hort Innovation also sends alerts about Survey are now available on the Hort
project updates to its members. Innovation website.
The levy-funded communications
program (through which this Journal
is funded) also provides regular
information on the levy-funded activity.
INDUSTRY COMMUNICATION

To stay informed about your levy-
investment, there are a number of


Australian Mushrooms Journal | Issue 3 -2021 51

AMSAFE








GROWERS COMMUNICATION STRATEGY


HOW TO PROCEED IN A CRISIS






















































Australian Mushrooms SAFE (AMSAFE) is a crisis management service, available to all industry.
The hotline is open 24/7. This is a mushroom levy-funded initiative, therefore, there is no
immediate cost to you in accessing AMSAFE crisis help.









52 Australian Mushrooms Journal | Issue 3 -2021