South African macadamia industry pivots to new cultivars amid profitability push

The South African macadamia industry is entering a new stage. Expanding planted acreage is no longer growers' sole focus, as they now seek to increase overall value and profitability per acre.

Against this backdrop, Du Roi Multiplant has become the fourth authorized nursery in South Africa (and the second in the Limpopo province) to propagate and distribute MCT1, a compact, high-yield cultivar managed by TopNut.

Photo by DuRoi Nursery

The addition comes amid renewed interest in varietal selection, driven by current sector challenges such as price fluctuations, rising input costs, shifting consumer markets, and an expanding global supply.

“Historically, macadamias have been an attractive long-term investment, but growers are now asking more sophisticated questions about productivity and profitability,” noted Gavin Pirie, commercial manager at Du Roi Multiplant, in a company press release.

He explained that while overall yield remains a key factor, growers are also carefully weighing elements such as kernel recovery rates, premium whole-kernel potential, harvest timing, and how well a cultivar adapts to specific local growing conditions.

South African macadamia sector shifts from tonnage to value

One defining shift across the industry is a sharper focus on crop quality and composition. In this environment, plant genetics and access to high-quality, disease-free stock are becoming increasingly relevant.

According to trial data from TopNut, MCT1 has shown traits such as early entry into commercial production and high kernel recovery rates. However, the company stresses that any cultivar's performance must be evaluated in light of location, climate, orchard management, and other production variables.

“No single cultivar is a silver bullet, and its performance must be evaluated in the context of the site, orchard conditions, and the grower's commercial goals. What MCT1 offers is another strong option for growers navigating these decisions,” Pirie said.

Higher returns per acre

Du Roi Multiplant said adding MCT1 to its lineup is part of a broader strategy to give growers access to professionally propagated plant material backed by genetic integrity and full traceability.

The nursery is Seedling Growers Association of South Africa (SGASA)-certified, and biosecurity firm Biosyntrix inspects its operations three times a year to ensure its macadamia trees remain pest-free.

The company maintains that adopting improved genetics can drive higher orchard productivity and operational efficiency, particularly as growers aim to maximize returns per acre.

MCT1 joins the suite of options available to South African macadamia growers alongside established cultivars such as A4, A16, 814, 816, and A268, as the market moves toward optimizing yields, nut sizing, and kernel recovery.

*Images are referential via Shutterstock unless otherwise credited.

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