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!