The three-year project, worth $1.35 million, is funded by Hort Innovation using avocado grower levies and matched funding from the Australian Government.
The research team includes experts from Macquarie University, NSW Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, Southern Cross University and Agreco Australia.
Chief Investigator Dr Bishwo Mainali from Applied Biosciences at Macquarie University says the research will help secure the industry’s future growth.
Australia’s avocado industry production is currently worth $574 million annually and is experiencing significant growth in both domestic and export markets.
“Queensland and Western Australia produce 87 per cent of Australia’s avocados, and there is also strong production in New South Wales, so the industry works across a range of climates and conditions,” says Dr Mainali.
“We’re aiming to develop specific solutions for local conditions to help farmers use fewer chemicals while keeping their trees healthy.”
The team will create new ways to spot early signs of pest and disease problems, work out the best times to treat crops and study how weather affects plant diseases.
Executive Dean of the Faculty of Science and Engineering, Professor Samuel Muller, says the project shows how university research can directly help Australian farmers.
“This work brings together scientific expertise and practical farming knowledge,” Professor Muller says. “It will help secure the future of Australia’s avocado industry while promoting environmentally friendly farming methods.”
The research will take place across Australia’s main avocado-growing regions in Queensland, Western Australia and New South Wales, supporting an industry that continues to expand its reach in international markets.
