Australian Tree Crops
In 2014, a number of tree crop industry bodies expressed their need for more accurate spatial information that identified how big their area of production was and where all the commercial orchards were located. Whilst the immediate application of this data varied from better understanding industry extent (location and area) to annual change, it was to also underpin improved annual forward estimates of production, infrastructure planning, labour, transport and storage logistics, traceability and advocacy at all levels of government. Knowing the location of crops is also essential for biosecurity preparedness and natural disaster response and recovery. The AARSC and collaborators responded to this need and delivered the first national map of participating tree crops in 2017.
The latest complete national map was delivered in 2022 and includes avocado, olive, mango, macadamia, citrus, banana, truffles, as well as the addition of all Protected Cropping Structures and soybeans (Qld).
The success of this work has been demonstrated by the expansion internationally to now include macadamias in South Africa and soon to be Pecans. The Australian Tree Crop Map dashboard was also awarded best international dashboard at the 2021 ESRI conference in San Diego (U.S.).
The phenomenal growth in new orchards plantings highlights the ongoing need to maintain the map. Mapping the new orchards is best informed with the engagement of industry and growers using location-based tools built by the AARSC.
Anyone can review the map in the ‘Industry Engagement Web App’ (best on desktop) or use the ATCM Survey (best for mobile) to provide their feedback. If anything is missing or incorrectly mapped, or a new orchard is being planted – use these tools to bring it to the attention of the research team at AARSC. As an example, see how the map is being applied within the Australian Mango Industry Association in this video by Marine Empson (Industry Development Manager), and how they encourage their growers to contribute using the ATCM Survey.
AARSC are maintaining the map with complete annual updates for the majority of these tree crops.
The Multi-scale monitoring tools for managing Australian tree crops initiative was led by the University of New England, and supported by Hort Innovation under the Australian Government’s Rural Research and Development for Profit program, which supported the mapping of all commercial avocado, mango and macadamia orchards (first published in 2017) and the addition of banana plantations, citrus orchards and olive groves (2022). Truffières were included in the map in 2023, supported by an AgriFutures led project.
AARSC continue to maintain the map with complete annual updates for all avocado, banana, citrus and macadamia crops—under the Spatially enabling Australia’s tree crops project, funded by the Future Food Systems CRC, Hort Innovation, UNE and industry partners including Avocados Australia, Australian Banana Growers Council, Citrus Australia and Australian Macadamia Society. The update of avocado is also supported by project (AV21006) funded by Hort Innovation, using the avocado research and development levy and contributions from the Australian Government. Hort Innovation is the grower-owned, not-for-profit research and development corporation for Australian horticulture.
