RESEARCH & EVENTS
Demonstrated success for almond aeration at Mildura SmartFarm
By Andrew Fisher , Mark White and Dr Zelmari Coetzee
THE Agriculture Victoria team at the Mildura SmartFarm in collaboration with Harveston Aeration Solutions and under the guidance of Dr Zelmari Coetzee have successfully demonstrated the drying of wet almonds using ambient aeration . In late 2023 the University of South Australia ’ s Professor John Fielke suggested to the team at Harveston Aeration Solutions that the almond industry had a drying and storage problem that could be solved with ambient aeration . Prof Fielke pointed to previous industry levee sponsored research ( AL12003 Advanced processing of almonds ) that concluded aeration was a valid method for reducing moisture in harvested almonds . This was referred to in a In a Nutshell article in the Summer 2022 edition ( pp . 36-37 ). The Harveston team devised a solution by combining their product storage and aeration knowledge with this almond-specific research . The completed product is a hybrid solution between a silo and current stockpile bunkers , coupled with an integrated aeration system and a smart controller . The entire solution is dedicated to the drying , storage and fumigation of almonds on-farm until delivery for processing . “ The system had to be easy to erect
Figure 1 : Ambient air drying-curve for the whole fruit , hull and shell from Day 0 to Day 23 .
and be capable of meeting industry needs for controlling moisture , mould , insects , and vermin ," Harveston ’ s founder Andrew Fisher said . " I am very proud of our team ' s work and the solution they devised .” Dr Coetzee from the Agriculture Victoria Mildura SmartFarm was approached to assist in evaluating the solution . The collaboration with Harveston began and the project funded by the AgTech Regional Innovation Network ( AgRIN ) and Agriculture Victoria Research ( AVR ). This type of demonstration is part of the primary purpose for the SmartFarm as the Mildura SmartFarm experimental almond orchard is a platform for research and innovation into the management of current and the design of next generation planting systems , and the evaluation of novel AgTech .
Using aerated storage rings Three aerated storage rings were constructed at the Mildura SmartFarm — the ring sizes were determined to accommodate for the yield of the 11ha of plantings . Sourcing suitable harvested fruit for the demonstration proved problematic as weather conditions had significantly delayed the SmartFarm harvest . Fortunately a local producer diverted 20 tonnes wet field weight of shake-and-catch harvested ‘ Wood Colony ’ with a high percentage of leaf trash and the demonstration commenced . The product was at the upper end of moisture expectations
Three aerated storage rings were constructed at the Mildura SmartFarm as part of the demonstration .
40 In A Nutshell - Spring 2023 Vol 24 Issue 3