Progress is being made in the almond industry with new varieties of trees that do not rely so heavily on nature.

Trials in South Australia's Riverland show self-pollinating almond trees could be a more productive way to grow the nut.

The trees don't rely on pollination from bees, and are hoped to improve water efficiency, increase yield and reduce disease.

Barry Williams, a commercial bee keeper in South Australia's Riverland, welcomed the introduction of the new varieties, saying they will help the bee industry.

"I think it's probably necessary in a way, it's going to be very difficult to have enough bees for the other varieties that are already planted."

South Australian bee keeper Barry Williams checks one of his hives. ( ABC News: Brittany Evins )

Almond plantings in Australia increased from about 5,000 hectares to almost 36,000 last year, with many producers ripping out other unprofitable produce and replacing it with almond trees.

Mr Williams said the demand for bees was set to sky-rocket as new plantings came into production.

"It's going to create more of a demand for bees for pollination and that is going to be a challenge for the bee industry to produce enough hives."

Attractive to growers

Walker Flat Almonds general manager Peter Cavallaro said the almond industry was blossoming, even without considering the self-pollinating varieties.

"This year we're looking at about 80,500 tonnes and I think in five years we're looking at 120,000 tonnes," Mr Cavallaro said.

"There's a lot of young orchards ready to come into production and the positive sign is we don't seem to be slowing down on being able to sell them. I think that's a good sign on where the industry is heading."

Walker Flat Almonds is one of several producers trialling the self-pollinating varieties.

Mr Cavallaro said he was impressed with his new tree growth and he expected the self-fertile varieties would push the boundaries of an already expanding industry.

"I think it's one of the tools in our toolbox, the major benefit is increased production," he said.

Almond blossoms in full bloom at South Australia's Riverland ( ABC News: Brittany Evins )

World's largest almond producers

University of Adelaide senior research fellow Michelle Worthensohn said she expected the industry to move towards self-pollinating varieties.

"The self-fertile trees I think will expand the industry because we'll probably be able to head into areas that maybe aren't traditionally normally almond growing," she said.

Trials show the new varieties of trees will produce more nuts than the most common variety, nonpareil, with the same amount of water.

"If there's a water restriction theoretically they should be able to produce more nuts without as much water," Ms Worthensohn said.

Hundreds of bees are generally needed to pollinate almond orchards to produce nuts. ( ABC News: Brittany Evins )

Ms Worthensohn said self pollination would reduce pressure on the bee industry, particularly if disease impacted colonies in Australia.

"In inclement weather when the bees tend to stay in their hives a self-fertile tree will still pollinate its own flowers, so you get better fruit set perhaps in years where the weathers not so good."

She said there was a bright future for the almond industry with the self-pollinating varieties in demand from the worlds largest almond producers.