International speakers to provide global insights into almonds
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EXPECT a comprehensive overview of the global tree nut industry when Ashok Krishen, the chairman of the International Nuts and Dried Fruit Council takes the stage at the Australian Almond Conference in Adelaide from October 13-15. His keynote address will focus on the recent developments in the almond market and the broader context of worldwide tree nut supply and demand dynamics. Mr Krishen will also highlight the opportunities and challenges facing the sector, as well as the key drivers that are expected to influence the outlook for almonds. The Almond Board of California’ s President and CEO Clarice Turner is making her first appearance at the Australian Almond Conference. Three quarters of the world’ s almonds are produced in California by 7,600 growers, where a typical orchard is 40 to 100 acres( 16-40 hectares). The ABC has 57 staff and while most are based in Modesto, there are others in New Delhi, London, Hong Kong and Seoul. In 2023 and 2026 Land IQ mapped Australia’ s almond orchards, revealing that in three years plantings had increased by 8,539 hectares.
forecasting techniques used for Joel Kimmelshue’ s team has been publicly traded commodities like doing similar work for the Almond corn, soybeans and wheat can Board of California since 2011. be adapted to speciality crops He’ ll outline how this work is carried including almonds. out, the results, trends, accuracies International almond researchers also and applications for mapping in feature prominently on the program. Australia and California.
Professor Astrid Volder from the California State University,
University of California – Davis Bakersfield Professor Abran( Abe) will discuss root architecture and
Padilla will explore the economics of almonds. maximising growth potential.
The almond industry veteran has
Maciej Zwieniecki, also from UC
spent almost three decades working Davis, will talk about how orchard in nut processing, strategy, sales, management can influence finance and agricultural analytics. carbohydrates, which in turn influence He is in the final stages of dormancy, budbreak and yield. completing his Doctorate in The Z Lab at the university has been
Business Administration at analysing the sugars and starch in
Pepperdine University, where his wood and bark samples supplied by dissertation explores how price- almond, pistachio and walnut growers In A Nutshell- Spring 2026 Vol 27 Issue 3
Chairman of the International Nuts and Dried Fruit Council Ashok Krishen, inset, will give a comprehensive overview of the global tree nut industry when he takes the stage at the Australian Almond Conference. He is one of serveral international experts who will attend the conference in Adelaide in October.
throughout California on a monthly basis. Greg Browne, who recently retired from the United States Department of Agriculture’ s Agricultural Research Service, will share his knowledge of almond diseases and disorders, including prunus replant disease during the masterclass on day one of the Australian Almond Conference. He returns to the stage on day two to discuss tackling soil borne disease and soil disinfestation. Sumit Saran from India and Joseph Yuan from China will discuss their respective markets, which are the top two buyers of Australian almonds during the marketing showcase.