Rural Industries Research & Development Corporation

Research Compendium 1993 - 1994

Research Project

RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT NEEDS IN PACKAGING OF AUSTRALIAN PRODUCE

Objectives

• To review the existing packaging and handling (including transport and storage) research for agricultural produce in Australia.
• To develop a priority list of goals, strategies, and potentially collaborative programs so that an effective R&D in packaging and handling management might be undertaken and funded.

Background

In the development of overseas markets, poor packaging of Australian produce has often been a significant problem. Yet the packaging industry must play a most important role in augmenting the quality and appeal of products. To enable agricultural products to gain a niche or a competitive edge in such markets, the packaging industry must focus its efforts on packaging design, performance evaluation and manufacturing technology. With an increasing trend world wide towards the consumption of convenience "shelf ready" foods, packaging remains a significant technological problem.

Research

The above objectives were accomplished by conducting a literature review, interviews, questionnaires and meeting with personnel involved with research in packaging, handling and transport of agricultural production in Australia and for export.

Outcome

As a result of research the following goals for the immediate future were established:

• to develop a systems approach to the provision of appropriate packages for horticultural products for the improved delivery of healthy, fresh and safe products to end-user markets;
• to develop innovative packaging technologies to meet needs identified in market research, particularly in Pacific rim countries; and
• to improve adoption of research by growers, packers, transporters, marketeers.

Implications

It is recommended that researchers adopt an integrated, cooperative approach to the research needs of the industry. This should be facilitated by funding bodies by the encouraged development of multi-discipline, multi-institute research programs with clearly identified budget, objectives, outcomes and appropriately managed by a single supervisor.

Research should be urgently conducted in the following areas:

• continued development of knowledge of the physical and physiological factors of produce and the interaction of such factor with various parameters of packaging, transport and storage;
• economic models for the packaging, transport, storage and marketing of specific horticultural products; and
• development of acceptable standard testing procedures for packages.

RIRDC Project No: VUT-1A

RESEARCHER: Dr Joyce Marcondes

ORGANISATION: Victoria University of Technology

PHONE: 03 688 4878

Last updated: 10 October 1996
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