Anne Mitchell

Anne Mitchell, Truffle Grower, Scientist

Ms. Mitchell is a truffle producer from Manjimup Western Australia and her 8 year old truffle orchard is now in its 4^th year of production of Tuber melanosporum.

Ms. Mitchell has studied both biological sciences and earth sciences and has a B.Sc. (Hons) in Pathology, a B.Sc. in Viticulture & Oenology, and a Diploma in Production Horticulture. This broad range of study and experience has enabled her to consider the complexities of truffle growing from both the scientific perspective and the perspective of the farmer.

Ms. Mitchell’s professional career as a medical research scientist studying and lecturing in immunology, genetics, biochemistry and microbiology. In 2000 she returned to study and following graduation, went on to work as a winemaker in several Western Australian wineries. In 2005 she purchased a small landholding and in 2007 planted wine grapes and 600 truffle-inoculated oak trees.

Ms. Mitchell has been active with grower organizations and was the President of the Australian Truffle Growers Association in 2012-2013 and is a founding and continuing committee member of the Truffle Producers Association of Western Australia.

Ms. Mitchell has recently worked with the Department of Agriculture and Food, Western Australia (DAFWA) as a Truffle Development Officer. In this position she has consulted with a wide range of truffle growers in WA. In 2015 Anne, as part of the DAFWA team, received federal, state and private industry funding for a national three year project entitled The Pests and Diseases of Truffles and Their Host Trees. She continues to be involved in that project is as a private consultant.

Ms. Mitchell’s presentation will be about her experience in the Australian truffle industry and the national research project with her talk: The trials, tribulations and triumphs of truffling in Australia