Responsible consumption and production

To pursue its goal of ‘producing more with less’, RFM focuses on operational efficiency, aiming to enhance productivity while reducing resource consumption per unit of output.

New cotton growing techniques

One key example of RFM’s efficiency initiatives is the adoption of the innovative ‘grow on’ cotton production system in central Queensland, where long, hot days and reliable water access provide ideal conditions for a longer growing season. ‘Grow on’ cotton boosts efficiency and reduces emissions by producing more cotton per hectare.

Under this production system, the crop uses around 15% more nitrogen than a ‘regular’ crop but aims to produce approximately 25% or more cotton.

Since ground preparation and planting were completed for the 'regular' crop and fertiliser provided for the vegetative stage, the emissions related to fuel (CO₂) and fertiliser (N₂O) use are not repeated, which reduces emission intensity.

Data-driven orchard management

In FY25, RFM expanded its network of permanent sample plot (PSP) sites across macadamia orchards, reinforcing a data-driven and science-based approach to orchard management (see Figure 3). The PSP sites enable continuous monitoring, providing orchard managers with valuable insights to optimise resource use.

Sap flow sensors installed at PSP sites offer preliminary data on tree water use, contributing to improved irrigation practices that are tailored to the specific needs of the trees. The information gathered so far has informed water management decisions, seeking to achieve a balance between conservation and healthy orchard growth.

Regular leaf and soil sampling complements this monitoring by guiding targeted nitrogen fertiliser applications. Collectively, this strategy has generated data that supports more informed management of macadamia orchards.

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Figure 3: Sustainable macadamia production¹

1. Wi-Fi: Wi-Fi mesh across the orchards enables PSP data transmission, remote infrastructure control, and employee access to an online safety platform, supporting a culture of safety and precision.
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2. Permanent Sample Plot (PSP): Solar-powered PSP sites in orchards collect tree and soil data using sapflow meters, soil moisture probes, and dendrometers, alongside climatic and irrigation data.
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3. Circularity principles: Macadamia husks and prunings are composted and applied across the orchards to enhance soil health, carbon levels, and water holding capacity.
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4. Remotely controlled dual irrigation systems: Dual, remotely controlled irrigation systems enable precise water application to support trees and interrow grasses, improve soil health, reduce erosion, and manage heat stress.
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5. Varietal selection: Higher-yielding cultivars producing quality nuts are planted throughout the orchard, with RFM and the University of Queensland collaborating to develop improved varieties.
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6. Data-informed decision making: Dashboards with PSP and orchard data for science-based decisions to maximise yields and optimise inputs.
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7. Environmental certification: Implementation of Hort360 Reef standards for practices to protect sensitive marine environments, such as the Great Barrier Reef, by minimising potential run-off from sediment and fertiliser.
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8. Orchard design: Orchard design uses diversion banks, grassed drains, and remnant vegetation to minimise sediment loss, maintain soil integrity, and promote biodiversity. Macadamia trees, remnant vegetation, and soil also act as carbon sinks, supporting environmental sustainability.

Macadamia phosphorous trial

Southern Cross University, in partnership with RFM, has launched a long-term rate-response trial to maximise macadamia orchard productivity by examining how phosphorus interacts with other key nutrients. The study involves systematically sampling leaves and soil to monitor nutrient dynamics under different phosphorus levels and correlating leaf and soil data to tree health and nut yields. The trial has been running for 12 months, and the first round of leaf and soil sampling occurred in July 2025.

Results from this trial are expected to develop more targeted and efficient fertiliser regimes and guide improved orchard management practices, delivering both economic and environmental benefits for macadamia production. This supports RFM’s broader objective of improving productivity and resource use efficiency to ultimately ‘produce more with less’.

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