The HGANZ Research Sub-Committee had its inaugural meeting on the 2nd of December. The aim of the Sub-Committee is to undertake hazelnut research that will improve yields and thus profitablity for the industry. There are multiple avenues for research, but the key will be matching research topics with the aims of the various funding organisations.
The HGANZ members are Alison Bentley, Murray Redpath, Michael Petherick and Pete Barrowclough, and from Lincoln University, Dr Clive Kaiser.
Clive is an Associate Professor in the Agricultural Sciences Department, specialising in fruit production, with a particular interest in pre- and post-harvest physiology. For more information, check out his profile at:
https://researchers.lincoln.ac.nz/clive.kaiser
Clive has identified a student interested in doing a PhD on hazelnuts. Currently, the student is in Oregon, working on an Honors [American spelling] project with Nik Wyman. We will keep you updated on this possible development.
In the next Newsletter, an update on the citizen-science project of “radical pruning”. This was demonstrated at a Field Day at the Lincoln University hazelnut orchard in 2022.