Research Committee

The Pistachio Growers’ Association’s research committee has effectively run the industry’s research program since the 1990s when the committee was formed to address a damaging outbreak of bacterial dieback.

The cause of the dieback was eventually identified as Xanthomonas translucens pv. Pistaciae which infected almost 40% of trees, killing up to 15% of them, from the mid-1990s to the early 2000s.

The fungal disease Colletotrichum acutatum wiped out the 2011 crop and killed up to a third of tree branches in the easternmost growing areas, which were subject to intense rainfall and flooding after a strong La Nińa event delivered record January rainfall on top of a wet spring in 2010.
Since then, strategies to manage both diseases have been successfully developed and implemented.

The research committee is made up of a blend of large growers, small growers and external experts. Current non-industry members are plant pathologist and biosecurity specialist Dr Prue McMichael former Executive Director at SARDI Dr Kathy Ophel Keller. 

Hort Innovation recognises the PGA research committee as the Strategic Industry Advisory Panel and seeks its advice.

The research committee’s priorities are:

Committee Members

Chris Joyce

Committee Chair

Kyalite, NSW

Tim Beard

Merbein, VIC

Andrew Bowring

Kyalite, NSW

Chris Lee

Birchip, VIC

Derek Goullett

Griffith, NSW

Ian Mau

Peebinga, SA

Dr Prue McMichael

Independent

Ryan Norton

Robinvale, VIC

Dr Kathy Ophel-Keller

Independent