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News & Events
Olive company pushing the innovation boundaries to win NAB Agribusiness Award
Published: 30-Oct-09
The Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation (RIRDC) today congratulated olive company Boundary Bend on winning the RIRDC sponsored innovation category at the 2009 NAB Agribusiness Awards.
Boundary Bend was awarded the Innovation in New and Emerging Industries Award at a ceremony in Melbourne last night in recognition of the innovative strategies they have put in place to build their olive business.
“Boundary Bend’s commitment to innovation, research and development has been critical to the growth of their business, and to the development of the olive industry and its professionalism. On behalf of RIRDC, I congratulate them on their success in the NAB Agribusiness Awards for Excellence 2009,” Dr O’Brien said.
“RIRDC is a proud sponsor of this award as we understand that one of the most effective ways to grow Australia’s new and emerging industries is to recognise excellence, and through that, encourage the uptake of innovative practices across the sector more broadly.
“The award recognises the significant business improvements that have resulted from Boundary Bend’s focus on innovation, and in that regard, they serve as a good example for other farmers involved in the olive industry, or those who may be looking to diversify.”
Dr O’Brien said a recent report by RIRDC found Australia’s new and emerging industries are conservatively estimated to be worth around $1 billion to the Australian economy. This included Australia’s olive industry which has grown more than ten-fold since 2000.
Boundary Bend is one of the largest managers of olive groves in Australia, with 6530 hectares on 2 main sites. In addition to producing extra virgin olive oil, the company manufactures olive harvesters, harvests olive trees, and manages an olive oil bottling, storage and laboratory facility. Their on-farm innovations include:
- state of the art irrigation and fertilising technologies, including satellite imagery
- efficient harvesting techniques using a 28-tonne ‘over the row’ mechanical harvester
- an IT system that produces regular online reports of their processing facilities
Dr O’Brien also congratulated the winner of the Technology and Innovation Award, Marinova Pty Ltd, a Tasmanian biotechnology company that produces bioactive compounds from brown seaweed.
“RIRDC plays a lead role coordinating the development of Australia’s growing seaweed industry,” Dr O’Brien said.
“Winning this NAB Agribusiness Award is fitting reward for Marinova, as it recognises the important role the company has played in growing the industry from relative obscurity, to one which is starting to make its mark on the world stage.”
Media enquiries: Duncan Sheppard – RIRDC Public Affairs Manager – 02 6271 4175 or 0458 215 604