About us
The Centre for Perennial Horticulture works with innovative established and emerging industries. Our focus is on apples, cherries and wine grapes with effort also in extractive crops, walnuts and berries.
A feature of our Centre is its strong national and international research collaborations. The Centre has an Adisory Group to gain input from the industry. Current Advisory Group members are:
Mr Rob McEldowney, Manager, Essential Oils of Tasmania
Mr Peter McPherson, General Manager, Berry Exchange
Mr Phil Dornhoff, Manager, Christmas Hills Rasberry Farm
Mr Oliver Ward, Project Agronomist, Hop Products Australia
Mr Mick Lang, Research Scientist, Walnuts Australia
Mr Matthew Pooley, Manager, Pooley Wines
Mr Brian Hinton, Tasmanian Olive Council
Mr Andrew Hall Horticultural Services Top-Qual Pty Ltd
We have operations located throughout the state at:
- UTAS Sandy Bay campus and New Town Research Laboratories in Hobart, within close proximity to the Huon, Coal River and Derwent Valley regions;
- Launceston within close proximity to the Tamar Valley region; and
- Burnie in proximity to the Spreyton area.
The Centre leads large programs through the National Apple and Pear five-year R&D program (PIPS) (collaborating with Plant and Food Research New Zealand, DPI Victoria and DPI Queensland), the AusIndustry Pinot Noir and Sparkling Wine quality program (in collaboration with the Australian Wine Research Institute) and in cherry production physiology (in collaboration with the Washington State University).
Discipline areas of strength are plant physiology, (production and post-harvest), plant pathology (Botrytis, powdery mildew), integrated pest management and soil science and management.