Murdoch University to team with Silverplace and Mt Lindesay for new research to put WA truffles on the map

Truffle growth, species and exports in WA is set to be boosted by research from a new team-up. Murdoch University have joined forces with Perth-based food company Silverplace — formerly Varona Fine Foods — and Mt Lindesay to put WA truffles on the map. The ‘Australian truffles’ project is backed by the Future Food Systems Cooperative Research Centre and it is hoped will increase the volume of new species of truffles, add to their market value across the world and increase Australia’s exports of the fungi. Murdoch University said in addition to exploring the suitability of new truffle species for Australia, more research was needed to fully assess truffle cultivation techniques and their influence on yields. Silverplace’s Adam Wilson said it was great to see production in both WA and Australia increasing and getting a competitive edge. “To enable this growth, a WA-based truffle seedling nursery and clean lab is being developed,” Mr Wilson said. “This will give us the capability to test truffle tree seedlings, enabling nurseries to improve seedling production methods continually and introduce practices that produce the highest quality inoculated seedlings. “Further, a team of researchers is developing a regime of post-nursery testing of successfully colonised trees planted in orchards, which take around one year to prepare before planting. “This could be further exploited to increase Australia’s export market share in the future.” Murdoch University deputy vice-chancellor Professor Peter Davies said the truffle industry was growing rapidly in Australia and it was exciting for Murdoch University to be part of this research driving commercial production on a larger scale. “Murdoch University will help support the research needed by providing a PhD student, as well as operating expenses needed to integrate the outputs of this project within the company’s supply chains,” Professor Davies said.