Protected Cropping Australia

Protected Cropping Australia is the peak industry body for the Protected Cropping Industry.

The PCA represents the industry nationally :

• in an advocacy role
  
  
• distributes information through conferences, seminars, newsletters and workshops
  
  
• helps fund and provides in-kind support for industry research and development activities
  
  
• facilitates industry applications to regulatory authorities for use of specialist treatment products in greenhouses.

On 6th July 2010, the Australian Hydroponic & Greenhouse Association changed its name to Protected Cropping Australia, by a unanimous vote at their AGM in Melbourne.

The name change is the first step in truly reflecting the broader Australian hydroponic & greenhouse industry thru transition from an incorporated association to a professional board structure.

The Australian protected cropping industry is valued at $1.3billion farm-gate value and consists of over 1,600 growers in 1,300ha.

These industry changes have been anticipated for some time now when it was acknowledged that the broader industry deserved equitable representation at a national level, most notably the cut-flower sector that produces the great majority of product in some form of protected cropping system.

Cut-flowers are currently only represented at state, regional or commodity level, and the new PCA structure reserves a minimum of 2 executive director positions to provide opportunity for national advocacy.

Additionally, the new PCA structure provides for 2 executive directors for vegetables, lettuce/ herbs, and allied trade to ensure equitable industry representation.

As the AHGA was incorporated in NSW, an extraordinary general meeting must be held there to adopt the new constitution and board structure. This is planned for November 2010.

It is anticipated that Protected Cropping Australia will represent all of the cut-flower industry and jointly with vegetables, lettuce/herbs and allied trade, the new body will provide a greater critical mass for representation to government at all levels and deliver better, more comprehensive and targeted services to its broad membership.