The New South Wales Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (NSW DPIRD) has installed a new citrus grading machine, the 'Global Scan 7', to enhance research capabilities in citrus production. The equipment, valued at $400,000, is expected to improve the collection and analysis of fruit quality data and align research trials with commercial standards.
Dr Tahir Khurshid, Research Physiologist at the Dareton Primary Industries and Regional Development Institute, said the technology will assist in measuring fruit weight, size distribution, fruit number, blemishes, and external quality, including colour grading. The equipment will be used in ongoing and future citrus research trials to help assess fruit quality, which remains central to market performance and pricing.
NSW is Australia's largest producer of fresh oranges, contributing around 60% of the national output. In 2023/2024, the state produced approximately 337,260 tons of oranges, valued at around €268 million (A$290 million) at the farmgate.
According to Khurshid, the ability to evaluate fruit quality using systems comparable to export packhouses allows researchers to better align findings with commercial practices. Trials at the Dareton Institute focus on a range of citrus varieties, including navels, mandarins, lemons, and juicing oranges, with research areas spanning irrigation management, plant density, nutrition, fruit sizing, and rind quality.
The installation of the new grader addresses limitations of the previous equipment, which had become outdated in comparison to systems used in commercial packing sheds.
Dr Alison Bowman, Director for Research Services at NSW DPIRD, said the research at Dareton aims to support sustainable citrus production. The institute hosts long-standing citrus variety trials, including some dating back to 1955.
Research at the institute contributes to broader citrus production strategies in the Murray Valley, New South Wales, and beyond, supported by national initiatives through Hort Innovation and the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR).
Source - https://www.freshplaza.com
