The business case for accessing superior hazelnut genetics
Domestic consumption of in-shell hazelnuts is about 300 tonnes a year, and hazelnut kernels around 2,000 tonnes (equivalent to 4,500 tonnes in-shell). Australia imports 2,500–3,000...
Improving the impact from current and future genetic and genomic investments
65 pages
Published: 27 Oct 2025
Author(s): Craig Hardner, Bradley Campbell,, Fran Humphries, Russel Rankin, Charles Lawson, Michelle Rourke, Peter Prentis, Upendra Shekhawat, Chelsea Moore
Share this content
-
Download report PDF
Download -
Purchase a hard copy - AUD $50
Australia’s agricultural sector is built on innovation, adaptability and a commitment to sustainability. Emerging industries play a crucial role in diversifying and strengthening the sector, offering new opportunities for growth and resilience. In this context, genetic and genomic advancements are fundamental in unlocking the potential of these industries, ensuring access to superior genetic resources that enhance productivity, profitability and sustainability.
However, agricultural industries — particularly smaller, emerging industries — face significant barriers to accessing superior genetic material. These challenges span knowledge gaps, technological limitations, regulatory frameworks and commercial constraints. Despite the growing importance of genetic improvement in driving industry success, many emerging industries lack the tools, frameworks and partnerships necessary to fully realise these benefits. This research was undertaken to address these gaps and provide a strategic roadmap to enhance the impact of genetic and genomic investments across key sectors.
The findings of this research underscore the value of well-defined breeding objectives, improved industry collaboration and targeted investment in genetic improvement programs. The study highlights opportunities for accessing superior genetic material from refining trait definitions to forging new partnerships with international breeding programs. Importantly, it also identifies strategies for overcoming adoption barriers, integrating emerging technologies and ensuring social licence for genetic innovations.
Key recommendations from this study include strengthening industry engagement with domestic and international genetic improvement initiatives, investing in better definition and measurement of priority traits, improving pathways for introducing superior genetic material and developing national breeding frameworks that align with industry needs. By implementing these recommendations, producers and industry stakeholders can drive practical, long-term improvements in genetic access and utilisation, ultimately fostering more resilient, profitable and sustainable agricultural systems.
This research was funded through the AgriFutures Australia Emerging Industries Program in collaboration with The University of Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation, Queensland University of Technology, Griffith University, Food Innovation Partnerships and the Northern Territory Department of Industry, Tourism and Trade. We acknowledge the invaluable contributions of industry stakeholders, researchers and collaborators whose expertise and insights.
View Appendices below: