Loxton’s Almond centre of excellence has been given a $6.2 Million funding boost, through Hort Innovation.
Led by the Almond Board of Australia, the Centre in Loxton was originally commissioned in 2016 and has helped fast-track industry-driven research outcomes.
For some time research for almonds was taken from data from California, however a major boost in research levy contributions has seen local research boosted significantly.
Almond Board of Australia chief executive officer Tim Jackson said “The Australian almond industry is an industry that cooperates and shares knowledge to move forward collaboratively,”
Hort Innovation chair Julie Bird said the significant investment into the Centre demonstrates almond growers’ commitment to their future.
“The almond industry has grown production from 7000 tonnes in 2002 to more than 140,000 in the 2023 season. Production is forecast to exceed 200,000 tonnes within the next five years and annual sales to exceed $1 billion,” she said.
