IPA announces approval of €152,000 research funds

IPA has recently been informed that Productschap Tuinbouw (PT) has approved funding for 8 of the projects that were submitted. This is tremendous news for our industry. The total funding approved is €152,000 for 8 projects over 3 years.

The 8 successful proposals and funding allocation for each project is listed below (please note that project titles may have been revised to align with funding objectives):

1. Botany Department, University of Cape Town, South Africa.
   Prof Michael Cramer - Pot and field trials to determine nutrient and irrigation requirements for Proteaceae for the development of practical, interactive fertiliser scheduling.
   > Funding of €16,000 over 3 years
   
   
2. The Horticulture and Fynbos Unit of the Agricultural Research Council based in Stellenbosch, South Africa.
   Karien Bezuidenhout - Screening Proteaceae material for resistance against Phytophthora root and collar rot.
   > Funding of €20,000 over 3 years
   
   
3. Instituto de Productos Naturales y Agrobiología, del Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (IPNA-CSIC).
   Carlos Gonzalez - Investigation into the suitability of an environmentally friendly plant defence activator for disease control and yield enhancement in the protea industry.
   > Funding of €20,000 over 3 years
   
   
4. Department of Horticulture, University of Stellenbosch, South Africa.
   Dr Lynn Hoffman - Control of leaf blackening as a postharvest disorder in Protea.
   > Funding of €16,000 over 3 years
   
   
5. Department of Tropical Plant & Soil Sciences (TPSS) at the University of Hawaii, USA.
   Dr Robert Paull - Enhancing Proteaceae flower and foliage postharvest life.
   > Funding of €22,000 over 3 years
   
   
6. Department of Horticulture, University of Stellenbosch, South Africa.
   Dr Lynn Hoffman - Post-harvest biology and technology of Leucadendron and Leucospermum under prolonged cold storage.
   > Funding of €14,000 over 3 years
   
   
7. Frutercoop (Cooperativa de Hortofrutifloricultores da Ilha Terceira, C. R. L.), with collaboration of SDAT (Serviço de Desenvolvimento Agrário da Terceira) and Universidade dos Açores.
   Antonio Domingues - Post harvest processing and treatment of Leucospermum and Protea to transport to Dutch market by sea shipping.
   > Funding of €20,000 over 3 years
   
   
8. Agricultural Research Organization (ARO), The Volcani Center, Israeli Ministry of Agriculture.
   Dr Sonia Philosoph-Hadas - Leucadendron ‘Safari Sunset’: optimization of pre- and post-harvest management for quality improvement of the cut branches following prolonged sea transport.
   > Funding of €20,000 over 3 years

On behalf of IPA, Dr Marius Huyshamer (Director: Research & Technical, Protea Producers of
South Africa) will be overseeing the research programme, and managing the format and
delivery of progress reports and final reports.