The NSW Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (NSW DPIRD) has unveiled a new state-of-the-art citrus grader, marking a significant step forward in NSW citrus research and development.
The $400,000 cutting-edge 'Global Scan 7' will enhance the department's ability to assess fruit quality with precision, supporting growers with data-driven insights to improve productivity, market access, and sustainability across the citrus supply chain.
Dr Tahir Khurshid, DPIRD Research Physiologist (Tree Crops) at Dareton Primary Industries and Regional Development Institute said the new technology will improve the outcomes from current and future research and development trials.
"The 'Global Scan 7' from MAF Oceania will assist in improving data collection and analysis once fruit are graded for weight, size distribution, fruit number and fruit blemishes. In addition to that, the machine has the capacity to do colour grading and grading based on external fruit quality," Dr Khurshid said.
"Citrus fruit is marketed on quality and the aim of all citrus production is to achieve quality fruit to maximise profit by meeting consumer demands.
"High quality fruit is what sets the Australian citrus industry apart from other exporting countries.
"The ability to produce high quality fruit with no blemishes is critical for fruit longevity, transport of fruit, presentation of fruit and achieving a good price.
"Research projects the capacity to grade fruit using equipment equivalent to what export packhouses use."
NSW remains Australia's largest producer of fresh oranges, accounting for 60% of national production.
In 2023/2024, the state produced 337,260 tonnes of oranges, valued at about $290 million at the farmgate.
NSW DPIRD has been ranked in the top 1% of world research institutions in agricultural, plant and animal science, and NSW DPIRD is the lead agency for citrus research in Australia.
Dareton Primary Industries and Regional Development Institute (NSW DPIRD) is one of the leading citrus research facilities in Australia. The research station provides both a research and extension function to horticultural industries in the Lower Murray region of NSW.
"A range of experiments on navel oranges, common oranges (juice), mandarins and lemons are conducted in areas of irrigation management, plant density and tree size control, nutrition, rootstock and cultivar evaluation, fruit size optimisation and improving rind quality," Dr Khurshid said.
"Fruit yield, fruit quality (sugar/acid levels, colour) and fruit size grading are important components of these experiments.
"Dareton Primary Industries and Regional Development Institute has extensive areas of citrus trials, laboratory facilities and experienced research, advisory, technical and farm staff.
"A major deficiency has been the out-dated citrus grading machine used to size and sort fruit from research trials.
"District packing sheds have adopted modern blemish and colour grading systems and citrus research at Dareton needed to keep pace with industry best practice in pre- and post-harvest technologies."
NSW DPIRD Director for research services, Dr Alison Bowman said research at the Institute is primarily directed at improving the sustainability of citrus production and has some of the oldest citrus varieties planted in 1955 trials, along with old varieties of trees that you cannot find anywhere else in Australia.
"The Department and its researchers enjoy a strong relationship with the citrus industry, targeting our work to address real world problems to give timely and accurate information to base decisions on," Dr Bowman said.
"Research conducted at Dareton delivers far-reaching benefits, positively impacting the Murray Valley and broader NSW and Australia through nationally funded projects supported by Hort Innovation and ACIAR.
"This latest investment in technology is just another way citrus growers across Australia continue to be supported by the NSW Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development."
