The Queensland nursery industry is a significant horticultural sector with a combined supply chain (production to retail) valued at more than one billion dollars annually. The industry employs approximately 6,000 people spread over more than 2,000 small to medium sized businesses including production nurseries and retail outlets.
Nursery production adds value to Queensland’s primary industry sector and in 2015/2016 is forecast to contribute more than
$898 million (farm gate) to the state economy.
Nursery production ranks third behind fruit & vegetables and sugar in contributing to the overall value of horticulture in Queensland.
The total Queensland nursery value chain (production + retail) is expected to exceed $1.2 billion in 2015/2016 and nationally the sector contributes over $5.5 billion to the Australian economy.
Production nurseries are primary producers growing their nursery crops within highly intensive production systems that are technically innovative and significantly mechanised.
The total area occupied for growing nursery crops in Queensland is just over 2,000 ha with a gross return per hectare of approximately $449,000 per annum.
The bulk of Queensland nursery production is undertaken in the southeast corner with an estimated 70% ($628.6 million) of all greenlife produced between Noosa and the NSW border and west to Toowoomba.
The Nursery & Garden Industry Queensland (NGIQ) head office is located in Brisbane Queensland Australia, and is the State’s peak industry body representing the nursery industry: production nurseries, retail nurseries and garden centres, manufacturers and agents for allied products.