Avocados Australia Inks Partnerships With Monash University Malaysia, University Of Wollongong Malaysia

PETALING JAYA, March 4 (Bernama) -- Avocados Australia Ltd, the national peak industry body representing Australia’s avocado growers, has formalised partnerships with Monash University Malaysia and the University of Wollongong (UOW) Malaysia.

The industry body signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Monash University and a memorandum of agreement (MoA) with UOW Malaysia to strengthen collaboration in nutrition research, culinary training and industry engagement.

Avocados Australia chairman Matthew Kleyn said the partnerships aim to strengthen cooperation between industry and academia while supporting efforts to expand knowledge about avocados among students and consumers.

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“Our collaboration with Monash University focuses on nutrition research, knowledge translation and student engagement to support informed, evidence-based health choices.

“(Whereas) our partnership with the UOW Malaysia builds on the Australian Fruits Culinary Training Programme, which aims to equip culinary students with the knowledge and skills to incorporate premium Australian avocados into menu creation,” he said at the signing ceremony here today. 

Kleyn said the ASEAN-Australia Centre, launched in 2025 by Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong, funds the partnerships to strengthen economic, cultural, and people-to-people ties between Australia and Southeast Asia.

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“Through the programme, we aim to provide culinary students and emerging professionals with practical exposure to premium horticultural produce, global supply chains and modern culinary applications,” he said during a press conference held after the signing ceremony.

Kleyn added that the partnerships are built on strong commercial foundations, noting that Australian avocado exports reached 18,487 tonnes in 2025, valued at nearly A$100 million (A$1 = RM2.78).

“Hong Kong, Singapore and Malaysia accounted for 84 per cent of total export volumes, with Malaysia emerging as one of our most dynamic and trusted markets,” he said. 

On Malaysia’s five per cent sales and services tax (SST) on imported fruits, including avocados, Kleyn said the industry remains focused on delivering quality products to consumers.

“Rather than focusing on the five per cent tax, what matters most is that when consumers choose to try an avocado, they receive an excellent-quality product. That has always been our focus and will continue to be our priority,” he said. 

When asked about Avocados Australia’s export target for the next few years, particularly for Southeast Asia, Kleyn said the goal is to continue growing markets and consumption across the region.

“In markets like Malaysia and Hong Kong, Australian avocados already hold around 70 per cent market share, possibly even slightly higher. So our focus is not only on increasing market share but also on increasing overall consumption.

“Currently, the average Malaysian consumes about 200 grams of avocado per year. In Australia, the average person consumes around five kilograms annually. Even that is not considered particularly high, but it shows there is significant room for growth in markets like Malaysia,” he said. 

The MoU and MoA were signed by Kleyn, Monash University Malaysia president and pro vice-chancellor Professor Datuk Dr Adeeba Kamarulzaman, and UOW Malaysia vice-chancellor and chief executive officer Professor Dr Hiew Pang Leang and witnessed by Australian High Commissioner to Malaysia Danielle Heinecke.

-- BERNAMA