Articles
Almond Centre of Excellence: Australia’s experimental and demonstration orchard
Article number
1406_35
Pages
233 – 240
Language
English
Abstract
The ACE orchard is a purpose-built experimental and demonstration orchard established in pursuit of advanced almond (Prunis dulcis) production systems that optimise productivity to ensure long-term sustainability of the industry and the regional communities it supports.
Located in Loxton, South Australia it was first planted in September 2017 and now occupies 60 hectares.
Its establishment made possible with the support from the South Australian and Commonwealth governments and assistance from Hort Innovation.
Research at the ACE Orchard investigates many aspects of productivity including: improved crop yields and harvest efficiencies; disease and pest management; product quality and diminished food safety risk; more effective inputs of water, nutrient, labour, equipment and chemicals etc.
Its unique management arrangement specifically for the purpose of capturing and extending research results while being mindful of their applications in commercial orchards.
This has provided multiple benefits including: the opportunity to push the boundaries in search of significant developments more than is possible on growers’ farms; farm trials are well managed to the researchers’ requirements in terms of irrigation, nutrition, pruning, pest and disease control, harvest timing without the risk of the commercial imperative interfering; harvest processes enable accurate in-field measurement of trial plot yields and nut characteristics vital to research objectives; provides a dedicated site for industry trials that can be conducted and observed over a longer timeframe than supported by conventional project funding; opportunity to learn from and build-on co-located trials between industry, researchers and commercial suppliers.
Integral to the industry’s innovation and adoption program, the ACE Orchard provides the opportunity to showcase best production practices and technologies and grower training programs.
There are currently 16 trials being undertaken across the site led by three research agencies, the ABA and three commercial companies.
The Almond Centre Excellence has been acknowledged as a valuable new research model aimed at seizing research funding opportunities for the benefit of the Australian almond industry.
Located in Loxton, South Australia it was first planted in September 2017 and now occupies 60 hectares.
Its establishment made possible with the support from the South Australian and Commonwealth governments and assistance from Hort Innovation.
Research at the ACE Orchard investigates many aspects of productivity including: improved crop yields and harvest efficiencies; disease and pest management; product quality and diminished food safety risk; more effective inputs of water, nutrient, labour, equipment and chemicals etc.
Its unique management arrangement specifically for the purpose of capturing and extending research results while being mindful of their applications in commercial orchards.
This has provided multiple benefits including: the opportunity to push the boundaries in search of significant developments more than is possible on growers’ farms; farm trials are well managed to the researchers’ requirements in terms of irrigation, nutrition, pruning, pest and disease control, harvest timing without the risk of the commercial imperative interfering; harvest processes enable accurate in-field measurement of trial plot yields and nut characteristics vital to research objectives; provides a dedicated site for industry trials that can be conducted and observed over a longer timeframe than supported by conventional project funding; opportunity to learn from and build-on co-located trials between industry, researchers and commercial suppliers.
Integral to the industry’s innovation and adoption program, the ACE Orchard provides the opportunity to showcase best production practices and technologies and grower training programs.
There are currently 16 trials being undertaken across the site led by three research agencies, the ABA and three commercial companies.
The Almond Centre Excellence has been acknowledged as a valuable new research model aimed at seizing research funding opportunities for the benefit of the Australian almond industry.
Authors
D. Jaensch
Keywords
industry led research, building research communities, connecting growers with research
Groups involved
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