WALNUT RESEARCH AND WALNUT INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENT IN AUSTRALIA

Australia is the driest continent and has old soils, poor in nutrients. The environment presents a major challenge to walnut growers. The Australian government rejects the philosophy of providing a subsidy for industry development. The current level of walnut production in Australia is not adequate to generate funding to support research.

The Australian Walnut Industry Association is focused on expanding the industry by increasing the domestic production of walnuts and introducing AWIA standards for domestic and export marketing of Australian grown walnuts.

The paper describes the current research profile of the Australian Walnut Industry Association and the close partnership between the Association and The Institute for Sustainable Irrigated Agriculture at Tatura, Victoria. AWIA's research is guided by the Association's Strategic Plan for Walnut Industry Development to the year 2000. ISIA disseminates information on its walnut research project and trains growers in soil and orchard management, thereby providing an important training and education opportunity.

AWIA facilitates walnut research among its members. The combined AWIA/ISIA approach to research, education and training is designed to achieve the adoption of world best practice principles among Australian walnut growers in production and marketing.