The Centre is recognised as the key citrus production research centre in Australia

Recent research - jointly funded by NSW DPI and industry - has focused on the improvement of fruit size and quality to assist export development programs and the development of new varieties and rootstocks to address current and future market requirements.

Work is directed at gaining a better understanding of the impact of seasonal conditions on fruit development and the identification of key growth stages for manipulating crop load and enhancing fruit size, quality and post-harvest shelf-life.

NSW DPI at Dareton has a national coordination role in citrus variety research with trial sites located at Dareton and in the Riverina in NSW, as well as in Western Australia, South Australia, and Queensland.

The national program for screening and evaluation of new citrus rootstocks is also centred at Dareton in an industry funded program involving NSW DPI, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, The South Australian Research and Development Institute, and the Queensland Department of Primary Industries & Fisheries.