The Nut Industry in Australia
The Australian tree nut industry is rapidly expanding. Additional production from new tree nut orchards will generate an industry approaching $1 billion in value by 2016, and by 2020 Australian tree nut performance is likely to exceed total Australian horticulture exports for 2008. The long lead times in nut cultivation have hidden this expansion from production and export statistics to date. It is now time to ensure that maximum market opportunities are available for this new sector of Australian Agriculture. This imminant expansion in production has important policy implications. Nuts need to continue to figure in policy directions and government decisions, particularly in the area of trade negotiations.(Australian Nut Industry Council 2009)
Australia with its diverse landscape and climate range is well suited to growing a wide range of tree and ground nuts. The warmer and tropical areas of Queensland and New South wales are ideally suited to the cultivation of pistachios, cashews, pecans and peanuts. The areas of north-eastern South Australia, northern Victoria and southern New South Wales with their combination of hot and cold weather lend themselves to the cultivation of almonds and pistachios. Chestnuts, hazlenuts and walnuts do best in temperate areas and are not recommended for subtropic areas as a commercial crop. They can however be worthwhile to grow for the home orchardist. It is recommended you consult your local nursery as to the suitability of your location. Australia produces enough almonds, pecans, macadamias and chestnuts to supply the national market. Hazelnuts, peanuts, walnuts and pistachios are cultivated in Australia on a commercial scale, but are also imported. Cashews and pine nuts are not cultivated in Australia on a commercial scale and Brazil nuts are fully imported. Australian Nut Production |
Macadamia crop - Courtesy of Richard Llewellyn
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Australian Nut Production (expected in 2009) - Figures from ANIC
| Area Planted (ha) | Production (tonnes) | Value ($ million) | Export Surplus Value ($m) | |
| Almonds | 28,326 | Kernel 36,000 | 252 | 143 |
| Chestnuts | 1,160 | In-shell 1,800 | 11 | 3 |
| Macadamias | 25,700 | In-shell 45,100 | 165 | 123 |
| Pecans | 1,300 | In-shell 3,260 | 18 | 11 |
| Pistachios | 870 | In-shell 1,275 | 9 | - |
| Walnuts | 2,790 | In-shell 1,162 | 5 | 1 |
Key Organisations
A large number of organisations are responsible for supporting and assisting the nut industry. Key organisations identified with strong links to the nut industry are as follows:
- Government Departments of "Agriculture/Primary Industries"
- Peak Bodies
- Key Organisations
- Research Organisations
| Peak Bodies | • Australian Nut industry Council • Australian Macadamia Society • Australian Pecan Growers Association Inc. • Australian Walnut Industry Association • Hazelnut Growers of Australia • Peanut Company of Australia (formally Peanut Marketing Board) |
Research Organisations | Australia • Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics • Grains Research and Development Corporation (Peanuts) • Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation New South Wales Northern Territory Queensland South Australia Tasmania Victoria Western Australia |
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| Key Organisations |
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Australian Nut industry Council (ANIC)
ANIC is the peak body for tree nut industry in Australia. ANIC represents the almond, chestnut, hazelnut, macadamia, pecan, pistachio and walnut industries. For more information on ANIC visit the Australian Nut industry Council website.
Horticulture Australia Council (HAC)
HAC is the peak national umbrella organisation representing the Horticulture sector; and currently has nineteen members (national peak industry bodies for the various horticultural commodities, and state grower associations).
HAC was formed in June 2000 as a not-for-profit association to effectively deal with the increasing number of critical issues that are threatening and challenging the livelihood of horticultural industry stakeholders. HAC's intention is to speak with one clear, strong voice in order to better promote the worth and importance of the horticultural industry both in Australia and overseas.
Details on HAC are available on the Horticulture Australia Council website.
Horticulture Australia Limited (HAL)
One of fifteen Rural Research and Development Corporations, Horticulture Australia Limited is a national research, development and marketing organisation that works in partnership with the horticulture sector to invest in programs that provide benefit to Australian horticulture industries. Research programs for tree nut industries are administered by HAL. Monies come from statutory industry levies and voluntary industry levies with expenditure on projects matched dollar-for-dollar by the Australian Government. The Nut Industry at HAL is represented by the Australian Nut Industry Council Ltd.
- Summaries for all publicly available final reports published by HAL are available from Final Report Summaries
- The Horticulture Australia Limited Strategic Plan
- The Horticulture for Tomorrow website provides information for Government, growers, industry leaders, general public and environment community in regards to major environmental activities undertaken through Horticulture for Tomorrow since 2004.
- The Horticultural Market Access Committee oversees market access issues for the horticultural industry (fresh fruit and vegetables, nuts, cut-flower and nursery production), coordinates planning in consultation with industry and Biosecurity Australia, and advises Biosecurity Australia on national market access issues priorities for horticultural produce.
Further details on HAL are available on the Horticulture Australia Limited website.
Plant Health Australia (PHA)
The objectives for which PHA is established are to:
- coordinate a cooperative whole of industry and whole of government approach to the development and implementation of plant health policies and management programs including incursion management;
- provide strategic leadership in the development and implementation of national plant health policies and management programs;
- maintain and improve international and domestic confidence in Australia's plant health status;
- contribute to the sustainability of Australia's plant industries and native flora;
- develop effective consultative, transparent and auditable systems for the management of the Company; and
- commission, co-ordinate, facilitate and manage national plant health projects.
Nut industry is represented on the Plant Health Australia Board by the Australian Nut Industry Council, the Almond Board of Australia, the Australian Macadamia Society and the Australian Walnut Industry Association.
• Industry Biosecurity Plan for the Nut Industry 2009 Version 2 (2.3 mb, 135 pages)
For information on PHA see the Plant Health Australia website
Nuts for Life
Nuts for Life is a nutrition communications initiative established for the Australian tree nut industry to provide information about the nutrition and health benefits of tree nuts.
Nuts for Life aims to provide useful, accurate and up-to-date information on the nutritional importance of tree nuts in the diet. The website comprises recent reports, research, newsletters, fact sheets and nutrient composition tables. The nutrition team at Nuts for Life is committed to providing nutrition information that is based on sound science.
Nuts for Life is facilitated by Horticulture Australia Limited in partnership with the Australian tree nut industry since May 2003. It is funded by voluntary contributions from the industry.
For information about the nutrition and health benefits of tree nuts visit the Nuts for Life website.
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