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Development of the Loxton Research Centre on land set aside for horticultural research as part of the Australian Government’s War Service Land Settlement Scheme.

Once developed the Loxton Research Centre became the focal point for research into a number of areas of importance to the horticultural industries. Some of the outcomes have included:-

• Pioneering and world class research into biological control of red scale.
• Evaluation of stone fruit varieties and training systems.
• Investigations into the alternate cropping of citrus and evaluation of new citrus varieties.
• Establishment of the State Foundation Planting of virus indexed and certified grape cuttings.
• Evaluation and introduction of vegetable varieties and other new crops previously not grown in the Riverland.
• World innovation in the use of low volume spraying methods.
• World class investigations into root-knot and stubby root nematodes leading to the introduction of nematode resistant vine rootstocks.
• Introduction of the Cropwatch system for disease management.
• Significant and innovative advances in the use of improved irrigation practices which are now being adopted in other states.

All of this has led improved productivity and sustainability of all of the major horticultural crops.

(source: Pat West through Sarah Harrison 2007)