Taking our macadamia research to the world via South Africa

“I gave a paper down in Africa…”

That’s Clean Coastal Catchments Research project’s Jeremy Bright's new wording for the 1982 Toto hit after speaking at the International Macadamia Symposium held in South Africa earlier this year.

Mr Bright was one of the many macadamia experts from across the globe who attended the Symposium in Durban in September to share his knowledge and experience.

Other attendees at the Symposium varied from macadamia producers to researchers, processors, and industry leaders.

Mr Bright presented on the links between crop nutrient replacement values, Integrated Orchard Management (IOM) and how changes in farm management practices can create both cost savings for growers and benefit the environment.

He said it was fantastic to be able to share his macadamia research with the global community.

“Attending the conference and the associated farm tours highlighted that many other macadamia production areas have the same issues with nutrition and soil health,” he said.

“It's great to know that our research can contribute to finding solutions not just for New South Wales but for many other macadamia producing countries like South Africa, Kenya and China.”

Mr Bright was one of more than 750 delegates from 20 different nations that attended the conference.

He said the benefit of attending extended beyond simply presenting his work on macadamia nutrient replacement.

Now, back in Alstonville, he has brought home many new ideas and contacts from across the globe.

“Our research work created great interest for delegates from other nations. It’s exciting to have this potential for International collaborative work into the future,” Mr Bright said.

“It was not just about sharing our research results. Gathering ideas from delegates from other nations was also incredibly informative,” he said.

Jeremy Bright is a Macadamia Development Officer with the NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI) with more than 30 years of experience working in horticultural industries across Australia.

As part of the DPI Clean Coastal Catchments (CCC) Research project in MEMS Initiative 1 Improving Water Quality, Mr Bright has been investigating macadamia nutrition and how to avoid using excess fertiliser nutrients that can seep off farm and pollute coastal waterways.

You can see a summary of the results of his research in the recently published Macadamia Grower Guides:

Macadamia grower's guide: nutrition and soil health – Part 1: the foundations

Macadamia grower's guide: nutrition and soil health – Part 2: the next level

The Clean Coastal Catchments Research project is funded via the NSW Marine Estate Management Strategy to improve water quality for our ocean, estuaries, and coastal wetlands.