Our Board & Committees

The Plant Improvement Committee is the industry reference group for the almond breeding and evaluation program. It provides guidance on the desired characteristics of new varieties, assists the establishment of trial sites and with the assessment of results. It also provides input into the decisions of which selections are released as commercial varieties and the conditions of their commercialisation. The committee guides the ABA’s high health status budwood program that ensures nurseries have access to pathogen tested material to produce superior nursery trees that enhance orchard establishment. 

The Sustainability Committee provides guidance in the development and implementation of the Australian Sustainable Almonds Program. This program aims to promote sustainable practices that optimise resource consumption and minimises the impact on the environment, as well as pursue opportunities that enhance the communities which support our industry. It is anticipated that by demonstrating a positive social value to communities and the environment we will be well placed to reinforce our social licence to produce almonds in Australia.

The Water Committee drafts industry policy for the ABA Board to consider and endorse. The committee also develops strategic actions to bring about positive change to the water market and other government policy that impacts on the pricing, availability and deliverability to almond and other irrigators whilst being mindful of the need for a healthy riverine system. The committee provides input into submissions prepared by the ABA. These submissions where possible seek to offer solutions to issues of concern. The ABA acts to gather the support of other Peak Industry Bodies to support our submissions.

The Almond Production Committee provides a forum to discuss all matters related to almond production to improve yields and input efficiency, address issues of supply surety and cost. The committee considers changes to production systems and provides input on best practices. The extension program of the ABA industry development staff is guided by the committee that also acts as the industry reference group for some production related research and development projects. It has a role in identifying risks for growers and gaps in the knowledge and technologies needed to enhance the production of almonds in Australia. This assists in the development of research priorities for the industry. These broad areas of responsibility are assisted by the specialist committees covering plant improvement, pollination, water and the experimental and demonstration orchard.

The Processing Committee provides a whole of industry approach to improving product quality, hulling and shelling more cost efficiently to meet required quality specifications, and maintaining Australia’s high product integrity reputation through providing input on food safety and quality issues. 

The Pollination Committee deals with the surety and cost of pollination services that are a necessary element of almond production. The growth of the almond industry has placed increasing demand on the available beehives in Eastern Australia. The committee is working to address any impediments to apiarists bringing their hives to almond orchards. The ABA supports the efforts of the beekeeping associations to have access to the floral resources on public lands. In addition, the ABA provides financial support to the biosecurity programs to keep bees safe from exotic pests. The committee is also investigating ways that the health of hives can be assured so that almond producers are getting hives capable of delivering a strong pollination result.

The Chemical Committee monitors the chemicals available to Australian almond production and identifies chemicals with the potential to expand the options for chemical rotation, efficacy and efficiency and pursue registration through APVMA. The committee will develop appropriate measures for chemical application to ensure MRL compliance in the domestic and export markets for consideration by the ABA Board. The Taskforce will comprise growers, technical staff from processors, senior technical people from major agrochemical companies and agronomists from retailers. Representatives from government bodies will be co-opted for guidance on issues as required. 

The Almond Market Development Committee analyses the domestic and global almond market, approves the activities that make up the marketing program, monitors the implementation of these promotions and trade events and evaluates the results. This committee acts as an industry reference group for marketing related research and development projects funded by grower levies and matched by the Commonwealth. The committee membership is drawn from the large industry marketers and members bring a wealth of expertise and experience to the broad range of marketing matters considered in building demand and maintaining market access for Australian almonds both domestically and on export markets.

The Almond Centre Committee was established to guide the development of the Almond Centre of Excellence that has at its heart a sixty-hectare experimental and demonstration orchard that is the home of the industry’s R&D activities. The Almond Centre has been established with the generous funding support of the South Australian and Commonwealth governments and the assistance of Hort Innovation. The committee also provides input into best production practices and technologies showcased on the orchard. The facility provides the opportunity to push the boundaries in search of significant developments to production systems. The Centre is a collaboration between industry, researchers and commercial suppliers.

The Audit & Risk Committee monitors the ABA’s financial position and systems, risk and statutory/regulatory compliance including the external audit and annual budget processes. The committee reviews all ABA expenditure, accounts receivable and payable, and other elements of the extensive financial reporting that is provided to the Board meetings. The committee members also decide on the investment options available for the ABA’s cash reserves. The members also involved in the approval of large financial transactions.