walnut industry update · health benefits of walnuts: the evidence grows… walnuts are - packed...
TRANSCRIPT
Walnut Industry
Update
Dr Sally SmithAWIA Secretary
The Australian Walnut Industry Association (AWIA)
• Includes all industry and major growers
• Peak Industry Body to ANIC, Gov’t, Nuts4Life, Voice of Hort
• Education – farm walks and symposia
• Biosecurity representation (PHA)
• Promotion and marketing
• Funds and participates in research
• Kernel newsletter & Australian Nutgrower
• New website www.walnut.net.au and
Walnut production areas
• Cool-temperate to semi-arid regions
• Wider geographic distribution than some other nut crops
• Production largely in SE Australia
• 4,240 ha of bearing orchards (2019)
NSW: 74% of total plantings
VIC: 13%
Tasmania: 11%
• But 65% of orchards are in Victoria
• Webster Ltd grows ~80% of production
Plantings• Most plantings based on Californian
cultivars and rootstocks
• 1.2 million trees
• Preferred for cultivar selection:
– Lateral bud fruitfulness (80-90%)
– Nut quality (size and colour)
– Leafing and bloom date
• Late-leafing cultivars (Howard, Chandler)
in 1/2 plantings
• New developments > 40% Chandler,
existing & new areas
Crop volume• 3 years to bear; ~ 7 years to full
production
• Influenced by production in Riverina
orchards
• Yields below forecast in recent
years:
– non-pollination fruit drop
– pistillate flower abscission
– sunburn, hail, frost, birds
• Expect 70% increase in yield as
current orchards mature out to
2025. We’re still learning to grow walnuts
in new environments.
0
2000
4000
6000
8000
10000
12000
14000
2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018
Australian walnut production (in-shell, tonnes)
Walnut production, current & projected
2011 2018 2021
(estimate)
2025
(estimate)
Area planted 2,790ha 3,600ha 4,300ha 5,000ha
ProductionIn shell supplies most of
Australian market.
3,455 t 11,800 t 14,000 t 20,000 t
Farm gate value $13.8m $55m $66m $95m
Exports, in shell 2,623 t 5,399 t 8,400 t 12,000 t
Export value $10.5m $25m $47m $67m
HIAL/ANIC: ABS & industry
Australian walnut sales
• $55m/year and growing
• in-shell and kernel
• many sale outlets in 2018:
• strong focus on export markets – Europe & Asia
• Webster Ltd accounts for >90% of export volume and 85% of production volume
(2017)
• ~ many growers sell at farmers’ markets & other retail; this is only 1% of total
volume of production.
(AWIA grower survey)
Wholesale Retail Farm
gate
Farmers’
markets
Processor Export
Growers 15 19 13 7 8 4
Australian walnut exports and imports 2018
In-shell & kernel
• Imports ~ 4,943t, $49.2m
• Exports: 55-60% of crop (5,399t, $25m)
– 56% to Italy
– 10% to China
– 8% each to Germany & Spain
– 99% from NSW.
Source: HIAL Horticulture Stats Handbook
* New free trade agreement with India; protocols being set up *
Australia’s walnut export success
• Reliable supply of premium quality walnuts into Northern hemisphere markets in their off-season
• We produce some of the best quality walnuts using world-class processing systems
• This gives consumers confidence that Australian walnuts are safe and reliable.
Domestic walnut consumption
2011 2016 2021
estimated
2025
estimated
Kernel (t) 5,285 5,437 6,000 7,000
20% of households buy walnuts
Average purchase 320g
Supply: stable at 332g per capita per year
HIAL Aust Horticulture Stats Handbook – Nuts - 2019
Health benefits of walnuts: the evidence grows…
Walnuts are -
Packed with essential fats
Full of vitamins, minerals & phytochemicals
Rich in antioxidants
One of the few plant sources of omega-3 fatty acids.
Eating 30g walnuts/day helps to -
Keep blood vessels healthy
Promote heart health
Improve blood cholesterol levels
Reduce risk of type 2 diabetes
Reduce risk of cancers, etc
… with no effect on body weight.
Why invest in Australian walnuts?
• Absence of most walnut pests and
diseases in Australia
• Walnuts are wind pollinated
• Continuing strong global demand for
walnuts
• Solid & sustained growth in
consumption, driven by increasing
awareness of their health benefits.
Questions?