SARDI Researchers

The Hon. R.P. WORTLEY (14:33): My question is to the Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development. Will the minister inform the chamber about the great work being done by SARDI researchers, and how this work has been recognised on the national stage?

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN (Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development, Minister for Forest Industries) (14:33): I thank the honourable member for his question. I am very pleased to once again have the opportunity in this place to highlight the fantastic achievements of our world-class researchers at SARDI. We know that our state is fortunate to have the research and science capabilities that provide crucial information and data across a range of industries, sectors and interests that are so important to our state.

On this occasion, I would like to congratulate soil-borne disease expert Michael Rettke from SARDI crop sciences who was awarded the Bayer Researcher of the Year at the Horticulture Awards for Excellence Gala Dinner, which was held as part of the Hort Connections 2023 conference in Adelaide last week. This is a national award that recognises researchers whose work has advanced industry, created long-term benefits and had outcomes that have been actively communicated and encouraged to be used on farm.

Importantly, the award also recognises the contribution of research or extension work that advances the reputation for Australian science internationally. Michael has over 30 years' experience providing research to the horticulture industry, with expertise in potato, onion, carrot and brassica crops. Michael is an incredibly valued member of the research team at SARDI and this acknowledgement is a well-deserved testament to his work over a long period of time.

Indeed, his work is highly regarded across the industry and by researchers across the country and internationally and has had tangible benefits to farmers, particularly with services such as Predicta Pt, for monitoring and understanding the risk of soil-borne diseases and helping to facilitate decision-making to reduce the impact of soil diseases on productivity and profitability. Michael has also been involved in research that has looked at monitoring pre-plant disease risk, management practice and crop performance and the results of his research have led to practice changes, such as in the management of onion stunt.

When I was speaking with him earlier this week, he said his absolute passion is soil-borne diseases, although he did do some work particularly with stone fruit earlier in his career. It was really fantastic to have the opportunity to talk with Michael in person about his work and about the sort of passion that means that he continues to contribute to our state in such an important way.

So much of the important work happens in the background for our $2 billion horticulture industry in South Australia, so it is fantastic to be able to recognise the achievements of people such as Michael, who lay the groundwork for the industry to be successful, providing research, information and knowledge to producers that really does make such a huge difference and will continue to do so.

Well done also to the team behind the successful Hort Connections 2023 conference in Adelaide. I am told it was the largest Hort Connections event that has been held to date. Again, a huge congratulations to Michael on winning the Bayer Researcher of the Year Award.