Information on our Scientific Poster presented at the North American Truffle Grower Congress in Santa Rosa, California, June 2026.

OBJECTIVES

• To learn Australian T. melanosporum production methods, how they differ from other methods, and why they are so successful.
• To experience Australian T.melanosporum hunting, harvesting, and food production.
• To learn about Australia’s marketing and agritourism methods. 
• To learn about Australia’s decades of T. melanosporum research and results.

BACKGROUND

• Australia was one of the first countries to establish truffles outside thenatural range of the Tuber species and is the fourth largest producer of T. melanosporum in the world. (1)
• The majority of Australian truffles come from Western Australia’s Manjimup region, famed for producing more truffle per hectare than anywhere else in the world. (2)
• Manjimup currently produces 90% of Australia’s total truffle exports. (1)
• Australia has nearly 30 years of data and research in producing T. melanosporum in non-native soil—insights unavailable elsewhere.
• Creating a market outside of the traditional season for T. melanosporum gives Australia a unique sales and marketing perspective.

METHODOLOGY

A small group of truffle enthusiasts (growers, hunters, and culinary aficionados) made a carefully organized 6-day visit to the Manjimup region of Western Australia. The group participated in: • four truffle hunts on three different properties • visited marketing partners in the region • engaged in dog training • Harvested, cleaned, and graded truffle per international standards • experienced a variety of culinary uses of truffle and participated in a cooking class at the innovative Hound and Hunter Test Kitchen. • attended cultivation, agritourism, and marketing presentations with in-depth question and answer time.

RESULTS

Participants gained education in successful truffle cultivation in non-native soil conditions. They were exposed to successes and failures in growing, hunting, harvesting, use in foods and marketing, and given the opportunity to look for ways to apply what they were learning to their current interest in the industry. When polled, all participants felt they had learned immeasurably more than expected and were surprised by the amount of truffles being produced in Manjimup (with one hunt yielding 35kg from approximately 1 acre in about 2 hours).

CONCLUSIONS

The Australian truffle industry has knowledge and experience in truffle cultivation in non-native soil that is particularly relevant to the industry in the United States. The decades of research and production are distinctive and can be of benefit to all who would like a practical and constructive approach to cultivating and utilizing truffles. The opportunit

y to access a well-structured Manjimup truffle experience is exciting, with unparalleled educational value. This is an important tool for growers, marketers, chefs, dog handlers, and other truffle enthusiasts.

WANT TO GO DEEPER IN PERSON? 

Join us in Australia in 2027 for an immersive truffle experience unlike anything available in North America.

[Learn more about the Australia 2027 Expedition →]

REFERENCES

1. JMahesh C.A. Galappaththi , et al. The Australian truffle industry: History, challenges and opportunities. Journal of Agriculture and Food Research, vol. 21, June 2025, www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666154325001735#bib11 2. Unearthing a quiet giant: Australia’s rising truffle industry, Agrifutures Australia, 2 December 2025, https://agrifutures.com.au/news/unearthing-a-quiet-giant-australias-rising-truffle-industry/