In 2022, this project is supporting eight Australian almond industry participants to travel to California to explore the latest R&D and technological developments and build on the international network established in recent years with the Californian almond industry.

Together Australia and California represent 87 per cent of global production, with the US almond industry investing $80 million annually into research and market development programs. The ability to access the knowledge generated by experienced researchers and the guidance of Almond Board of California staff has delivered a high return on the previous investment from the study tours.

The project will continue to enable the US industry to further grasp the dynamic nature of the Australian industry and our commitment to continuous improvement. As a result, the Almond Board of California has raised the prospect of co-investing with the Australian industry in research projects and is already funding some Australian researchers.

The project will ensure that findings from the study tour are shared with the broader industry via the industry’s communication and industry development programs. Previous visits have identified many contacts that have welcomed further visits from Australian industry members and researchers.