Macadamia industry national on-farm productivity coordinator (MC09009)

This is a final research report from Hort Innovation’s historical archives. Please note that as these reports may date back as far as the 1990s, the content and recommendations within them may be superseded by more recent research.

What was it all about?

This report detailed the role of the National On-farm Productivity Coordinator (NPC) in facilitating change in the macadamia industry. The NPC facilitated adoption of the outcomes from R&D projects with the aim of improving profitability and sustainability for the macadamia industry. The NPC was also responsible for developing and maintaining the Research & Development (R&D) program by facilitating R&D planning workshops and providing technical advice and guidance to the R&D committee and assisting and guiding researchers in project development. Through the NPC project, strong networking had been established within the pool of researchers engaged in macadamia research and many successful collaborative projects were developed. The NPC was also responsible for maintaining other professional networks, for example the pest scouts and consultants network, the macadamia industry extension network, processor networks and international networks.

Technology transfer strategies used in the macadamia industry were based on the industry Communication plan (Baker 2000).

Products used to aid extension and adoption include:

• The AMS News Bulletin; produced every two months and mailed to all AMS members
• The AMS website; held the industry reference database making information available in a searchable format 24 hours per day
• The AMS E newsletter; a monthly newsletter emailed to all AMS members and others who elected to receive it.
• MacGroups; were grower discussion groups where industry issues and research results could be discussed in a friendly environment
• MacMan Best Practice groups; data based comparative analysis groups organised on a regional basis
• Field days; held on a regular basis
• AMS Annual general meeting and technical conference; showcases the R&D and marketing programs to the industry
• Numerous short courses and training; depending on demand
• DVD’s; detailing the practical use of research outcomes with testimonials and case study from early adopters.

Processes were developed to ensure that the grower’s levies, matched with commonwealth funding through Hort Innovation (which was then Horticulture Australia Limited), were used in the most efficient manner. Regular consultation with AMS members occurred at various levels including discussions with growers at MacGroups, with pest scouts and consultants with processors at various levels including quality managers, grower liaison/field officers and CEO’s, and researchers through industry steering groups where progress and future directions of projects were discussed.

As a direct result of the NPC project the AMS was viewed by industry stakeholders as the primary source of information, including agronomic advice, financial information, industry prospects, investment potential, etc.