The The intensive plant intensive plant

productionproduction industryindustry

Dr Guijun YanDr Guijun Yan

The definition of intensive The definition of intensive

agricultureagriculture

�� Intensive agricultureIntensive agriculture is an is an agriculturalagricultural

production system characterized by the production system characterized by the

high high inputsinputs of of capitalcapital or or labourlabour relative to relative to land area (land area (WikipediaWikipedia encyclopedia). It encyclopedia). It

mainly focusing on high value products.mainly focusing on high value products.

�� Under WA Under WA environments, mostly environments, mostly based on irrigated based on irrigated production practice production practice ––

�� horticulture (fruits, horticulture (fruits, vegetables, flowers, turf, vegetables, flowers, turf, nursery, etc.)nursery, etc.)

�� ForestryForestry�� irrigated high value crops irrigated high value crops

(cotton, sugar cane, rice, (cotton, sugar cane, rice, forage, medicinal, some forage, medicinal, some legumes, etc.).legumes, etc.).

WA intensive agricultureWA intensive agriculture

Cool wet Cool wet

winterswinters

Hot dry Hot dry

summerssummers

The importance of intensive The importance of intensive

agriculture in the worldagriculture in the world

Total production (%)

Cereals Meats

Fish Diary

Fruits and vegetables Oils and fats

Other food

2084 mtons 2323 mtons

Fruits and

vegetables

produced

through IA are

about 37% of

the total

agriculture

production in

the world

FAO (2007)

World food consumptionWorld food consumption

Household consumption (%)

Cereals Meats

Fish Diary

Fruits and vegetables Oils and fats

Other food

The

consumption

of fruits and

vegetables is

about 23% of

the total food

consumed in

households.

ABARE –2007

23%

20%23%

WA intensive agricultureWA intensive agriculture�� The WA intensive The WA intensive

Agriculture industry is Agriculture industry is worth around worth around $612$612million per year (about million per year (about 10% of the total WA 10% of the total WA agricultural production agricultural production and 20% plant based and 20% plant based production).production).

�� Three major areas of Three major areas of IA production IA production –– The The Perth region the Perth region the CarnarvonCarnarvon region and region and OrdOrd River irrigation River irrigation area.area.Margaret

River areaManjimup

area

Kimberley

Carnarvon

Major achievements in WA Major achievements in WA

intensive agriculture intensive agriculture -- ViticultureViticulture

•Dr John Galdstone identified

Margaret River as a suitable

environment to grow wine

grapes in 1960s.

•13,000 ha have been planted

•84,000 tonnes of wine grapes

were produced in 2005/2006

•Farm gate value of $110

million

•Equivalent to $600 million

wines at retail

•Drink less, drink better!

Major achievements in WA intensive Major achievements in WA intensive

agriculture agriculture –– apple breedingapple breeding

�� MrMr John Cripps bred a John Cripps bred a

series of high quality series of high quality

apple cultivars including apple cultivars including

‘‘Pink LadyPink Lady’’ in 1970s.in 1970s.

�� They have been grown They have been grown

worldwide.worldwide.

�� More than 30 million More than 30 million

trees planted since 1984trees planted since 1984

�� Royalty of about $1 per Royalty of about $1 per

treetree

�� > $1,000,000 income > $1,000,000 income

each year from royaltieseach year from royalties

Pink Lady

Sundowner

Major achievements in WA Major achievements in WA

intensive agriculture intensive agriculture -- wildflowerswildflowers

Pearl Series

Ballerina series

Purple Jared

Pixy Red

•Prof. John Considine

plant the first Geraldton

Wax collection at Shenton

park in 1994

•A series of new cultivars

were bred from that stock

•The work stimulated

several breeding projects

working on Boronia,

yellow bell,

Leucadendron, etc.

•WA production is about

$50 million

•WA exports 55% of

national flowers

�� Adaptation and application of Adaptation and application of

drip/sprinkler irrigation systemsdrip/sprinkler irrigation systems

�� Nutrient requirement of new Nutrient requirement of new

cropscrops

�� New cultivars of new and New cultivars of new and

established cropsestablished crops

�� Integrated pest managementIntegrated pest management

�� In vitro soil (IVS) tissue culture In vitro soil (IVS) tissue culture

systemsystem

�� MoreMore

Major achievements in WA Major achievements in WA

intensive agriculture intensive agriculture -- othersothers

UWA strength in IA UWA strength in IA –– turfturfWorld class facility

Multiple approach: Water Use efficiency, Salt-tolerant

breeding, Nutrient Management, Soil Amendment

Objectives: Improved irrigation and nutrient management

for the turfgrass industry

Leaders: Tim Colmer, Louise Barton

UWA strength in intensive UWA strength in intensive

agricultureagriculture

�� Forestry: Forestry: Sandal wood, Sandal wood, EucalptusEucalptus, ,

Acacia Acacia –– Plummer, Jones, YanPlummer, Jones, Yan

�� Flowers: Flowers: WaxflowersWaxflowers, , BoroniasBoronias, ,

LeucadendronsLeucadendrons, Yellow bells and other , Yellow bells and other proteaceousproteaceous plants plants -- Yan Plummer, Yan Plummer,

Considine, Lambers, Finnegan, et al.Considine, Lambers, Finnegan, et al.

UWA strength in IAUWA strength in IA

�� Vegetables: Vegetables: Carrots, Potatoes, Lettuce, Carrots, Potatoes, Lettuce, Cauliflowers, Radish, Chinese Cabbage, Other Cauliflowers, Radish, Chinese Cabbage, Other BrassicasBrassicas –– Yan, Plummer, Barbetti, Turner, Yan, Plummer, Barbetti, Turner, CowlingCowling

�� Fruits:Fruits: Grapes (wine & fresh), Olives, Citrus, Grapes (wine & fresh), Olives, Citrus, Bananas, Mangos, Apples, Kiwifruits, Stone Bananas, Mangos, Apples, Kiwifruits, Stone fruits, fruits, ZiziphusZiziphus –– Yan, Plummer, Considine, Yan, Plummer, Considine, Kailis, TurnerKailis, Turner

�� High value legumes High value legumes -- SiddiqueSiddique

Potential futurePotential future

-- researchresearch�� Intensive horticulture/viticultureIntensive horticulture/viticulture

�� Integrated pest managementIntegrated pest management

�� NutraceuticalNutraceutical/pharmaceutical (functional food)/pharmaceutical (functional food)

�� Water use efficiency (new cultivars, irrigation Water use efficiency (new cultivars, irrigation efficiency)efficiency)

�� Storage, transport, processing (value adding).Storage, transport, processing (value adding).

�� Irrigated cropsIrrigated crops�� Establish and develop production systemsEstablish and develop production systems

�� Effective control of pestsEffective control of pests

�� New cultivars/crops to suit our special conditionNew cultivars/crops to suit our special condition•• –– BT cottonBT cotton

Potential futurePotential future

-- TeachingTeaching

�� Review/redesign units specifically catering Review/redesign units specifically catering for students interested in intensive agriculturefor students interested in intensive agriculture

�� To make the intensive agriculture related degree To make the intensive agriculture related degree viable viable –– increase student numbersincrease student numbers�� Undergraduates Undergraduates -- attract more international (Asian) attract more international (Asian)

students as well as local studentsstudents as well as local students

�� Postgraduates Postgraduates –– International as well as localInternational as well as local•• Masters by course (publicity)Masters by course (publicity)

•• More More MScMSc, PhD students by research, PhD students by research

Common units Units for extensive agriculture

Units for intensive agriculture

Degree in Agricultural 1

Sciences

Degree in Agricultural 2

Sciences

Potential futurePotential future

-- Service to the industryService to the industry

�� Suggestion: Staff and students working on Suggestion: Staff and students working on

intensive agriculture to have a trip to intensive agriculture to have a trip to

KunanarraKunanarra, , CarnavonCarnavon and other intensive and other intensive

agricultural areas to make contact with agricultural areas to make contact with industryindustry

�� Listen to industry needsListen to industry needs

�� Build stronger partnerships with industryBuild stronger partnerships with industry

�� Serve the industry by matching our strength Serve the industry by matching our strength

with industry needswith industry needs

Summary Summary -- challengeschallenges

�� The existing intensive agricultural area The existing intensive agricultural area around Perth is not sustainable around Perth is not sustainable ––environment, Henvironment, H22O, economics, etc.O, economics, etc.

�� Team up with DAFWA and other Team up with DAFWA and other institutions to target the irrigated institutions to target the irrigated agriculture areas of Kimberley regionagriculture areas of Kimberley region

�� Specifically:Specifically:�� Set long term goals as well as short term Set long term goals as well as short term

goalsgoals

�� Work as a group as well as an individualWork as a group as well as an individual

�� Collaborate externally as well as internallyCollaborate externally as well as internally

Many thanks!Many thanks!