Fighting food waste with new capsicum and chilli research
CQUniversity researchers are working with Australia’s major capsicum and chilli growers to solve a problem that costs the horticulture industry an estimated $53 million dollars a year.
The new research project funded by Hort Innovation will improve productivity by optimising fruit quality and reducing common defects which often lead to consignment rejections, income losses for farmers, reduced consumer demand and food waste.
CQU researcher and chief investigator Karli Groves said the project will map capsicum and chilli supply chain performance, assess fruit quality using digital and traditional methods, and develop best practice recommendations for production and post-harvest handling.
“Recent surveys revealed that one in five consumers who purchased capsicum with black or rotten seeds threw the entire fruit away,” Ms Groves said.
“Our goal is to empower growers with practical, actionable advice that will allow them to produce high-quality capsicums and chillis at greater volumes,” Ms Groves said.
The research team will work closely with growers in on-farm trials and use digital trackers and sensors to measure a range of different variables, including temperature and humidity at multiple points along the supply chain.
Ms Groves said quality issues such as internal rot were poorly understood, and specific recommendations for minimising internal rot in open field production versus greenhouse systems did not exist.
“The data we gather from this research, combined with emerging analytics approaches, will allow us to answer those questions,” she said.
Hort Innovation CEO Brett Fifield said the project would deliver practical solutions that improve fruit quality, reduce waste, and drive profitability – strengthening the future of capsicum and chilli production and the broader horticulture industry.
“This partnership with CQU is a powerful example of how targeted, science-backed research can deliver real-world benefits for growers,” he said.
Bundaberg Fruit and Vegetable Growers CEO Bree Watson said the group was proud to partner with CQUniversity on the project.
“Our role is to ensure the research remains focused on delivering practical, commercially relevant outcomes for capsicum and chilli producers across Australia,” Ms Watson said.
“With our deep industry connections and regional insights, we’re committed to making sure grower voices are heard and that the findings lead to real improvements on-farm and along the supply chain.”
The $1.68m project is expected to be completed in 2030.
