International Go Nuts Symposium

A one-day 'Go Nuts' Symposium will be held in Brisbane, Australia as part of the International Horticultural Congress 17-22 August (IHC2014). The aim of this symposium will be to update delegates on the latest research. Other symposia at IHC2014 that may interest nut delegates include 'Consumer and Sensory Driven Improvements to the Quality of Fruits and Nuts', 'Mechanisation, Precision Horticulture and Robotics', Innovative Plant Protection in Horticulture' and 'Postharvest Knowledge for the Future', however there are other which may also interest delegates. There will be 1-day tours on Saturday 23 August that will include visits to macadamia research centres and farms. One tour to the Sunshine Cost will also include viewing other subtropical tree crops, whilst the other to the Northern Rivers area of New South Wales will also include viewing blueberry production. International production of nuts is increasing rapidly. Production of all tree nuts increased from 2.7 million metric tons in 2009 to an estimated 3.4 million metric tons in 2012. The Australian tree nut industry includes almonds, macadamias, pecans, pistachios, walnuts, chestnuts and hazelnuts. Very small quantities of cashews and pine nuts are also produced. Tree nuts are grown in a variety of climatic conditions across Australia, with all states and territories except the Northern Territory having one or more type of orchard. This presents many production challenges, but Australian growers have excelled at planting and managing large areas quickly. Production from the Australian tree nut industry is continuing to expand. Additional production from tree nut orchards planted earlier this century will generate a farm gate value approaching $1 billion in value by 2020. Exports will rise to $750 million per annum.