The Almond Board of Australia’s biennial R&D Forum returned to Robinvale in October 2025, bringing together over 350 growers, researchers, students, distributors, and industry partners for two days of learning, discussion, and collaboration.
Four of our team members at 7 Worlds Ag attended – Will, Stephen, Orville, and Maya, and have shared their key takeaways from this year’s event.
A Strong Outlook for the Season Ahead
The forum opened with an industry address from CEO Tim Jackson, setting the tone with a clear snapshot of where the sector is headed. A few standout insights that the team shared, include:
- 2025 crop projections are tracking slightly lower than 2024 at 155,531 tonnes, but confidence remains strong.
- Demand and pricing trends continue to look positive, giving growers plenty of optimism heading into the new season.
- Total planted area across Australia has now reached 66,096 hectares, reinforcing the scale and continued growth of the industry.
A recurring theme across the event was resilience – the almond industry continues to adapt to climatic, economic, and biosecurity pressures while finding new opportunities to innovate.
Pest & Disease | Carpophilus Beetle Takes Centre Stage
Pest and disease management dominated much of the R&D conversation this year, with a particular spotlight on the Carpophilus beetle, now considered one of the most significant pests facing almond growers.
This included updates on:
- Agriculture Victoria’s Carpophilus trapping project
- Beetle lifecycles and monitoring
- Management strategies and research underway in both Australia and the US
Other key areas explored include bacterial spot, anthracnose, hull rot, progress on fungicide resistance screening. Practical discussions continued during an on-farm field trip, where growers and researchers dived deeper into pest impacts, profitability considerations, and the latest surveillance tools and technology.
Replanting, High-Density Systems & the Future Orchard
One of the most notable discussion points was the industry’s upcoming replant challenge. It’s anticipated that 40% of existing orchards will be replanted within the next 5–7 years. Insights from a recent Spain/Portugal study tour highlighted the potential of high-density plantings as a future pathway for Australian producers.
The combination of plant breeding, orchard architecture, and smarter production systems formed a clear theme – future-proofing begins now.
Sustainability, AgTech, & Climate Preparedness
Day two offered a broad mix of presentations touching on:
- Sustainability initiatives
- Drought and climate readiness
- Integration of AgTech solutions
- High-density orchard development
- Breeding programs for enhanced resilience
- Fungicide resistance and chemical use patterns
These sessions reinforced that the almond industry is rapidly evolving, and that innovation is playing a crucial role in shaping production, market competitiveness, and environmental outcomes.
Meaningful Connections & Plenty of Pink Caps
Beyond the technical insights, this year’s forum was an incredible opportunity for our team to connect with growers and industry leaders. The 7 Worlds Ag team held our exhibitor stand in the main forum space, sharing product information, chatting with growers, and handing out plenty of our famous pink caps (which were, unsurprisingly, a big hit!)
A highlight all our team mentioned was seeing over 100 delegates in the field wearing 7 Worlds branded hi-vis vests during the orchard tours. It was a fantastic moment of visibility for our growing brand.
The end-of-day food vans and bar created the perfect atmosphere to continue conversations, share ideas, and strengthen industry relationships as everyone wound down from a big few days.
A Valuable Two Days for Everyone Involved
From emerging research to practical on-farm insights, the Almond R&D Forum again proved its value as one of the most important, knowledge-sharing events on the horticultural calendar.
For the 7 Worlds team, it was a chance to not only connect with growers and strengthen industry partnerships, but to share our solutions and gain clarity on the challenges and opportunities shaping the almond sector’s future.
We love attending the Almond events throughout the year and we’re already looking forward to the next one!