SA to host National Almond Centre of Excellence

May 2015

Australia's largest and fastest growing horticultural sector will soon have its own National Centre of Excellence in South Australia’s Riverland.

Minister for Agriculture, Food and Fisheries Leon Bignell (photo) said the South Australian Government had reached an agreement with the Almond Board of Australia for the facility to be based at the Loxton Research Centre.

"The National Almond Centre of Excellence will ensure future innovation and technology advances for almond growers in South Australia and around the nation," Mr Bignell said.

Under the agreement the SA Government will spend $4 million in the next four years, with further contributions from industry and the Federal Government, to support research to improve production and exports.

The almond industry is worth more than $160 million a year to our state, with Australia now the second largest almond exporter in the world behind California.

Greek Tribune