Australian Truffle Assocication Conference 2025
Notes from George Wilkinson (GeorgesTruffles)
Our Truffle business is a member of the ATIA (Australian Truffle Industry Association) and hence we attend their conferences each year and maintain many contacts there.
Below is a summary of the main presentations at the conference:
- ATIA has established itself as the Australian Truffle Industry body. It has attracted Government funding of $3m over 5 years through Agrifutures for Research as an Emerging Industry.
– The research Structure is indicated below in the attached screen photo showing 4 themes of research.
– The 2nd screen photo summarises the 4 themes established at a Face to Face Co-design with growers and other industry participants held in Nov 2024.
– The research would be carried out by a number of Universities.
– The Managing Research Organisation is University of Melbourne.
– Each themes general outline was discussed by each of the research partners.
– The Research Program has been named AUSTRUF.
2. ATIA has established a Trademark TruffleCare managed by Peter McFarlane to which ATIA members can register to. https://truffleindustry.com.
This is especially helpful to newcomers to the truffle industry, focusing on Best Practices.
3. Irrigation Control system (New on market)
Check out TORO – affordable and DIY.
4. Organochlorines have been a problem in some export shipments in Asia and threaten bans.
These residues from old treated posts, sheep dips etc.
5. More than 20 new Truffle farms are being established in Australia each year.
Most of these new farms are established with trees from a single well respected nursery (except Western Australia which has multiple nursery’s) and through a single Truffle farm Consultant. The people investing in this industry have established their capital from other business.
Agrifutures and the Australian Truffle Association have developed this placemat about the current state of the industry
https://agrifutures.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/25-017-Truffle-A5-Placemat.pdf
Also listen to this podcast from the Emerging Industries team from Agrifutures
Podcast about Truffle Industry in Australia
