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• Providing leadership and a national voice on issues critical to the industry, including:
  • Water surety
  • Pollination
  • Biosecurity
  • Sustainability
  • Pest and disease pressures
  • Skilled labour force
  • Social license to grow
• Hosting more face-to-face meetings, forums and field days for growers
• Exploring on-farm ag-tech innovations
• Making the Australian Almond Conference and Research and Develop Forums “must attend” events for the growing community
• Expanding research trials to recognise the diverse and differing needs within the various growing regions
• Further developing the Almond Centre of Excellence (ACE) Orchard to facilitate scientific trials from leading industry experts
• Enhancing grower information streams through Almond Bytes, In A Nutshell, Grower Updates and Field Days
• Developing measurement tool and skills to assess your carbon-footprint.
• Establishing an industry-wide benchmarking orchard management portal that provides each farm manager with an insight into how they stack up on a wide range of areas including irrigation, pollination, energy use
• Trade – Advocating for further free trade agreements and implement market development programs to drive demand in existing, emerging and new export markets
• Grower support – assistance for growers dealing with a range of issues like varroa, diseases, border restrictions, water supply and pests
• Advocacy – lobbying for changes to meet your biggest challenges through the local, state and federal governments.

But we can’t do all this without a strong membership base.

While the industry is fortunate that almost all stakeholders contribute through our statutory research and development levy and our voluntary marketing levy (0.02c/kg), there are a growing number of activities required that are not covered under the co-funding arrangement cited. Taking out a membership helps cover the costs of these activities cited above that don’t qualify for co-funding through government.

More than ever, it is important for the industry to have resources to advocate and protect the interests of stakeholders. In recent times we have been pro-active on pollination and the varroa response, not to mention a new trade agreement with India, the UK and EU which could all boost sales opportunities.

This work is not covered by co-funding but is time consuming and critical to all stakeholders.

Demonstrating your support by taking out an ABA membership helps us underline the united front the ABA provides growers of all sizes.

A membership also grant eligibility to become an active participant in an industry committee that meet regular to advance research and actions.

Nominate to represent your fellow growers on the Australian Almond Board:

• Govern the strategic direction of the company and guide policy development
• Monitor organisational performance, financial position, approve appointments, and liaise with stakeholders

Nominate to represent your fellow growers on one of Almond Board’s committees:

• Attend 2-4 meetings per year to discuss priorities for your committee and assist in strategic planning of the company
• Be the conduit between the Almond Board and growers
• Be a strong voice and a leader in your industry by meeting with government representatives, attending networking events, and building connections within industry
• Committees include: Pollination, Water, Chemical, Sustainability, Market Development, Processing, Production, Plant Improvement.

Be a part of the Almond Board’s mission and direction:

• Share your ideas and concerns with the Almond Board committees to be raised for discussion
• Have input into the Almond Board’s advocacy to government by providing evidence for our inquiry submissions and ministerial meetings regarding important matters such as industry fees, water regulation, and exports
• Vote for Almond Board members
• Reach out with interesting and innovative stories and technologies on your farm, for the Almond Board to communicate with industry in the magazine or e-news

Be the first to hear of new data and information that impacts your growing decisions:

• Receive updates from our CEO on critical matters affecting industry such as market access issues, labour issues and COVID-19 updates
• Get notifications on chemical updates
• Request national data on varieties, produce export, prices, and pest and disease

Access almond industry communications to keep you in the know:

• Get your monthly e-newsletter Almond Bytes for current updates on our government lobbying, grants, events courses, offers and other exclusive content
• Receive industry alerts and calls to action on topical and current matters
• Receive the quarterly e-magazine In A Nutshell straight to your inbox, featuring industry news, an update from the CEO and human interest stories.

Get member only invitations and discounts:

• Receive your annual invitation to the AGM
• Access discounted member tickets to our national forum 
• Receive a subscription to the Australian Nutgrower Journal for the primary member.

Access almond industry communications to keep you in the know:

• Be involved in stakeholder engagement to address issues of commonality
• Get your monthly e-newsletter Almond Bytes for current updates on our government lobbying, grants, events courses, offers and other exclusive content
• Receive industry alerts and calls to action on topical and current matters
• Receive the quarterly e-magazine In A Nutshell straight to your inbox, featuring industry news, an update from the CEO and human interest stories
• Provide input and access to initiatives stages in domestic and export markets.
• Receive a subscription to the Australian Nutgrower Journal for the primary member.
• Receive a discounted price for tickets to attend the Australian Almond Conference.
• Get your invitation to attend and to exhibit at our annual national forum

Advocate for the almond industry and be heard by decision makers:

• Have input into the Almond Board’s advocacy to government by providing evidence for our inquiry submissions and ministerial meetings regarding important matters such as industry fees, and exports

We often receive questions regarding what the Almond Board does and what being a member means. These are some of the most frequently asked questions.

Q. I pay the almond levy, does that mean I am an Almond Board member?
A. No. The Almond Board of Australia is a not-for-profit member organisation. Our grower members pay the almond levy which goes to Hort Innovation, and they also pay a voluntary membership fee based on their orchard size directly to the Almond Board.

Q. Where do my levies go?
A. Your levy is collected at the first point of sale, which is generally your packing shed or the marketer you use. They send this money to the Federal Department of Agriculture Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF). The DAFF gives some of this money to Plant Health Australia (PHA) for biosecurity projects, and some to Hort Innovation, who both invest in R&D and marketing projects based on industry needs. The investments are generally projects carried out by a range of service providers including the Almond Board.

Q. Does the Almond Board get my levies?
A. Not directly. The Almond Board participates in a competitive tender process to win levy funding and manage the R&D projects offered by PHA and Hort Innovation. We only apply when we feel we are best placed to manage these projects. This is why we rely on membership fees to conceptualise, secure and deliver these projects, by providing a stable business structure, a regionally based office, skilled staff, and a Board with oversight of committees, enabling a fair representation of industry.

Q. I receive the Almond Board e-news and the magazine. Does that mean I’m a member?
A. Not necessarily. We share our e-news and In A Nutshell magazine with all of industry – our grower members, non-members (levy payers), and affiliate members. You can find out if you are a member by calling us on (08) 8584 7053.

Q. Why does having a representative body like the Almond Board matter?
A. The ABA provides the leadership and voice on a wide range of issues facing the industry. In times of crisis it the organisation governments turn to for information, feedback and collaboration. A unified voice with a strong membership provides credible leverage when challenging or advocating on behalf of industry. When an exotic pest like varroa is found, the Almond Board represents you the grower, and gives industry a collaborated and strong voice in the response. When there is an issue in an export market, Almond Board will be there to help you. We represent industry to governments here and abroad, and we have networks and contacts to call on to assist. When government makes poor policy, we are your voice at State and Federal levels. Whilst we deal with issues every day, we are always looking to the medium and long term to prepare industry for challenges and opportunities to lie ahead.