Australia: Smaller, high-density, and automated orchards are set to deliver better fruit and nuts

A new $41 million tree crop program is to accelerate the development of new almond, apple, citrus, macadamia and mango varieties. The project being developed by growers and plant scientists aims to develop smaller, high-density orchards for higher yield and supported by automation to reduce the pressures caused by labour shortages. The new varieties also promise to feature desirable traits including better storage and quality, higher nutritional content and climate resilience. Delivered through Hort Innovation's Frontiers investment program, the five year initiative is led by a collaboration between QUT, Murdoch University, University of Queensland and Western Sydney University. The program is said to build on more than five years' of researching tree genomics and crop physiology to enhance orchard production systems and develop new tree crop varieties in collaboration with national levy and publicly funded breeding programs. Mr Fifield said the work was equipping breeders with ...