This paper evaluates a novel approach in horticulture of using quantitative survey methodology to inform horticultural tree crop breeding objectives. Using the Australian macadamia breeding program as a case study, the aim was to elicit Australian macadamia industry stakeholder preferences for economical equivalent trait improvements, estimate preference heterogeneity, and identify associations with stakeholder characteristics. A total of 19 respondents participated in the survey, representing 20% of the Australian macadamia industry. Respondents displayed a high willingness to use pairwise comparison implemented in the 1000minds software. Respondents exhibited a wide variability in preferences, however, variation in average preference among trait improvement levels was not large, suggesting on average preferences were consistent with economic values of unit of trait change derived from an industry developed bio-economic model. Observed heterogeneity in preferences were not associated with respondents’ role in industry, orchard size, or growing region.

本文评估了一种使用定量调查方法确定园艺树木作物育种目标的园艺新方法。使用澳大利亚澳洲坚果育种计划作为案例研究，目的是引出澳大利亚澳洲坚果产业利益相关者对经济等效性状改进的偏好，估计偏好异质性，并确定与利益相关者特征的关联。共有 19 名受访者参与了调查，占澳大利亚澳洲坚果产业的 20%。受访者表示非常愿意使用 1000minds 软件中实施的成对比较。受访者在偏好上表现出很大的差异，然而，特质改进水平之间的平均偏好差异并不大，表明平均偏好与来自行业开发的生物经济模型的性状变化单位的经济价值一致。观察到的偏好异质性与受访者在行业、果园规模或种植区域中的角色无关。