Articles
Past progress and future potential for research of Australian natives and Proteaceae
Article number
1104_1
Pages
1 – 8
Language
English
Abstract
The Australian native and Proteaceae industry has had a relatively short history, compared with other floricultural crops.
In the early 1980s commercial production came from seedling plantations and wild-harvested tracts of land.
Global markets are now supplied with an extensive range of premium cultivars produced in well-managed field plantations of woody perennials, as well as protected cultivation of some herbaceous plants.
Early developments in the industry were largely supported by research initiatives of government agricultural departments, with South Africa, Australia and Israel as leaders.
As the global industry grew, valuable contributions were added by research groups in Hawaii, Zimbabwe, New Zealand, and, more recently, Spain, Portugal and Chile.
The continued commercial success of these specialised floricultural products has led to the introduction of private investment into product development to support market demand for innovative, impressive new cultivars that are competitive on a global scale.
The wide range of genera and species included in this industry sector present challenges and opportunities to research scientists.
Research trends are described and analysed, and discussed in the context of global commercial production, highlighting future research potential.
In the early 1980s commercial production came from seedling plantations and wild-harvested tracts of land.
Global markets are now supplied with an extensive range of premium cultivars produced in well-managed field plantations of woody perennials, as well as protected cultivation of some herbaceous plants.
Early developments in the industry were largely supported by research initiatives of government agricultural departments, with South Africa, Australia and Israel as leaders.
As the global industry grew, valuable contributions were added by research groups in Hawaii, Zimbabwe, New Zealand, and, more recently, Spain, Portugal and Chile.
The continued commercial success of these specialised floricultural products has led to the introduction of private investment into product development to support market demand for innovative, impressive new cultivars that are competitive on a global scale.
The wide range of genera and species included in this industry sector present challenges and opportunities to research scientists.
Research trends are described and analysed, and discussed in the context of global commercial production, highlighting future research potential.
Authors
A. Gerber
Keywords
cut-flower, ornamental, fynbos, landscape, research trends, industry maturity
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