Independent review of the Macadamia industry innovation and adoption project (MC24008)

This project aims to assess the impact and value of strategic changes made during the second year of the Macadamia industry innovation and adoption project (MC20000) . This review will evaluate how well the revised project is tracking towards its projected outcomes, the enhanced value derived from these changes, and the level of stakeholder buy in. Additionally, the review will identify potential improvements in the project’s delivery and outcomes to maximise value for stakeholders, including Macadamia industry levy payers, delivery partners and R&D providers, industry stakeholders, and value chain members. 

Challenge  

The Macadamia industry innovation and adoption project (MC20000) underwent significant revisions in 2023-24 in response to several challenges impacting the Australian macadamia industry. Key issues included rapid expansion of planted hectares in Australia, global oversupply, extreme weather conditions, increased production costs, labour shortages, a weakening market, and stockpiles of ingredient styles leading to record low prices in 2022. Industry consultation highlighted the need to realign project activities and objectives to better address market demands, global competition, and industry growth. Additionally, there was a recognised need for greater oversight and coordination of R&D efforts to enhance industry outcomes and value for money. Consequently, the project operating plan was modified to address these challenges more effectively.  

In 2024, the project team conducted a review of the Macadamia Strategic Marketing Plan, including an update to the Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) Plan. This process provided insights into recent developments in both global and Australian macadamia markets, which will inform the review of MC20000. These insights will be instrumental in assessing the project’s progress, the relevance of the modifications, and the added value for stakeholders. Furthermore, they will help identify areas for improvement in the project’s implementation and future iterations. 

Response  

The review process will include:  

Benefit  

The review is expected to provide valuable insights into the effectiveness of the Macadamia Innovation and Adoption Project, particularly the impact of recent changes. The inclusion of a sense-making workshop will ensure that recommendations are relevant and practical for project delivery partners and industry stakeholders. The final report will document the project’s interim status, offering a benchmark for assessing future program design and delivery improvements.