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Olive growers face new R&D levy
4 Feb 2004
The Australian Olive Association says growers must consider a proposed levy to fund R&D projects and marketing initiatives. The R&D levy would be mandatory and most likely range from $20-$40 a tonne (2-4 cents a kilogram), AOA president Paul Miller said. The levy would be collected by processors and matched dollar for dollar by the Federal Government.
Mr Miller said the funds are needed for research projects into pest control, harvesting and processing techniques, genetics, and for marketing.
The AOA will hold levy workshops and a postal ballot will be held in April. The industry's major growers and processors want to have a say in nominating R&D projects. One grower agreed the industry needs a mandatory levy but said it's unfair if a grower with 1,000 trees has the same voting entitlements as a grower with one million trees.
Weekly Times, 4/2/04, page 9.
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