Reducing plastics and chemicals in NSW’s cut flower industry
Through targeted education, extension activities and industry collaboration, this project is supporting New South Wales cut flower growers to adopt more sustainable practices and strengthen their resilience to natural disasters.
This project is being delivered by RMCG on behalf of AgriFutures Australia, with funding from the Australian and NSW Governments’ Storm and Flood Industry Recovery program.
RMCG staff visiting a cut flower farm in New South Wales.
How did this program come about?
In early 2021, severe storms and floods across NSW caused widespread damage to many agricultural regions; this included the contamination of waterways with plastics and agricultural chemicals. In response, the NSW cut flower industry identified a need for greater support to help growers adopt more sustainable and environmentally responsible practices.
To address this challenge, RMCG is working collaboratively with growers, industry associations and service providers to:
- Raise awareness of sustainable best practices
- Reduce the use of single-use plastics and chemicals in flower production
- Build resilience against natural disasters and the effects of a changing climate.
RMCG has worked to establish partnerships with key industry groups, including Flower Growers Group of NSW, Protected Cropping Australia and WildFlowers Australia to assist with the development and delivery of materials across the project.
What has been achieved so far?
A key focus of the project is the development and delivery of a comprehensive, industry-wide extension campaign designed to equip NSW cut flower growers with the knowledge and tools needed to adopt sustainable practices and build resilience to natural disasters. The campaign specifically targets improvements in integrated pest and disease management (IPDM), plastic use reduction and safe chemical handling.
To support this, a range of activities are being delivered including regional workshops, fact sheet development, webinars, podcasts and ChemCert training. These initiatives are all aimed at building grower capacity and promoting best practices across the industry.
A major component of the project has been the delivery of five regional workshops focused on IPDM and safe chemical application. RMCG has partnered with leading experts – Dr Len Tesoriero (CropDoc Consulting), Dr Robert Spooner-Hart and Tony Bundock – to assist in the delivery of these workshops.
Upcoming workshops
Three remaining workshops are scheduled for August 2025.
- Central Coast: 7 August – register here
- Far North Coast: 8 August – register here
- Mid North Coast: 9 August – register here
The workshops are offering growers practical insights and support. Feedback from attendees highlights the positive impact of the sessions:
“This workshop was great, we don’t get information like this in South Australia, so I came over for this.” – Grower
“It’s great to get out into the field and listen to what the (experts) have to say, they’re a source of really valuable knowledge.” – Grower
Growers listening to Dr Len Tesoriero present at the second IPDM Workshop.
Grower resources
As part of this project, RMCG has developed a suite of fact sheets on common insects, pests and diseases, and best practices for IPDM, plastics and chemical management. These resources are available below and will be updated as new materials are completed and become available.
Managing pests in cut flowers – fact sheets
Managing diseases in cut flowers – fact sheets
IPDM and chemical management – fact sheets
Webinar recording
This webinar explores practical ways to boost beneficial insect populations and manage pests more sustainably on a flower farm. It includes two recent case studies on banker plants in capsicums and cut flowers, identifying suitable host plants to help grow predatory insect populations and reduce key pests. It then discusses chemical resistance, how it develops and practical strategies to reduce the risk of it developing on farm.
The session ends with an open Q&A with presenters Dr Bernardo O’Connor, Dr Robert Spooner-Hart and Camilla Humphries.
