ABA Committees
The ABA Board is supported by specialist committees that have their own terms of reference and are linked to the Board by an ABA Director chairing each committee and ABA staff providing support .
BUILDING DEMAND FOR AUSTRALIAN ALMONDS
Market Development Committee
The Almond Market Development Committee analyses the domestic and global almond market , approves the activities that make up the marketing proram , 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 an dmembers bring a wealth of expertise and experience to the broad range of marketing matters considered in building demand and maintaining market access for Austrlaian almonds both domestically and in export markets . Chair : Brendan Sidhu
Processing Committee
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 maintainingn Austrlaia ’ s high product integrity reputation through providing input on food safety and quality issues . Chair : Nigel Carey
Sustainability Committee
The Sustainability Committee provides guidance in the development and implementation of the Austrlaian Sustainable Almonds Program . This program aims to promote sustainable practices that optimises resource consuption 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 product almonds in Australia . Chair : James Callipari
INPUT SURETY AND COST
Production Committee
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 . Chair : Peter Cavallaro
Pollination Committee
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 . Chair : Peter Cavallaro
ACE Orchard Committee
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 . Chair : Brendan Sidhu
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