Hort Innovation, Plant & Food Research, and the Australian Macadamia Society (AMS) researchers conducted a trial in a Bundaberg orchard which investigated pollination impacts on four different nut varieties. The trials showed that, when researchers hand-pollinated flowers along rows of different varieties, in almost all cases (44 of 47 trials), more than double the nuts were produced compared to those not hand-pollinated. This suggested that when pollinators, particularly bees, had the opportunity to transfer pollen between different macadamia varieties, similar results could occur.

Hort Innovation Chief Executive, John Lloyd, said these findings complement