Primary Industries Minister Tim Mulherin said that his department would spend the next three years working with Israeli agricultural scientists to apply new methods of disease control, breeding and genetic manipulation to primary production.
"Avocados are worth $35 million to the Queensland economy each year, but as much as 25 per cent of product is not fit for sale when it reaches the retail stage because of disease and decay," Mr Mulherin said.
"Through this joint project with Israel we will be able to develop better lines of fruit and reduce post harvest losses through maximising disease resistance."
Mr Mulherin said they would also be using Israeli research to reduce disease in tomatoes, and also to develop better breeding stocks of prawns and crayfish in Queensland.
Source: The Age