Summary

This project is focused on developing a local date tissue culture industry in Australia. As date cultivation in Australia is anticipated to increase rapidly, due to increasing market demand, the industry requires a propagation strategy to successfully cater to this projected demand. Currently, most of the new date plantations are propagated from tissue cultured plants imported from overseas. Importing planting material from abroad has associated biosecurity risks, transport risks, increased cost, waiting period in quarantine and a higher environmental footprint.
This project will explore the feasibility of developing a local tissue culture industry to supply date propagules. By diverting away from business-as-usual, this project will contribute to exploring the potential of developing a local tissue culture industry as a reliable supplier to new plantations and ensuring industry sustainability into the future. The project will be undertaken in partnership with key stakeholders, namely, research partners, state government agencies and commercial date farms, to explore the technical, commercial, and developmental feasibility of a domestic tissue culture propagation facility.

Program

New and Emerging Industries

Research Organisation

Australian Date Growers Association Inc