2024 was a year of milestones and extremes. The world watched Trump’s return to the White House, the Paris Olympics brought nations together, and record-breaking global temperatures triggered extreme weather events that disrupted lives and industries alike. AI continued its rapid evolution, shaping how we work and live, while historic voter turnouts across the globe signalled a year of unprecedented civic engagement.
Closer to home, Australian macadamia growers overcame some challenging weather conditions to deliver a quality crop that exceeded the size of the previous year’s by 11.5%. We deepened our understanding of consumers with a major international U&A study (results coming soon) and strengthened global relationships through key trade events in China and India. Hosting food and lifestyle influencers from South Korea and Japan in the Northern Rivers growing region was another highlight, alongside a successful domestic marketing campaign in the lead-up to Christmas.
It’s our pleasure to bring you regular updates throughout the year, sharing everything from crop news and consumer insights to product innovation and health stories. We look forward to keeping you informed in 2025. If there’s a particular topic you’d like us to explore or if you’re introducing a new product featuring macadamias, we’d love to hear from you. Feel free to get in touch with Australian Macadamias Market Development Manager, Jacqui Price.
If you missed any key moments from the last 12 months, here’s a recap of our top stories from 2024.
#1: Trends snapshot: What’s influencing food and beverage choices in our key markets
Staying across consumer trends is essential for understanding how food and beverage preferences are evolving, and for the Australian macadamia industry, it offers insights into how macadamias can help meet the needs of consumers in both domestic and export markets. Last year we explored international food and beverage trends focusing on China, Japan, South Korea, India, USA and Australia, examining the evolution of health, wellness and consumption patterns and how they’re influencing the food and beverage purchase decisions in some of our key markets.
#2: Dispelling the myth: Scientific research confirms the truth about nuts and weight gain
In a world where dietary trends fluctuate, one fact remains steadfast: nuts are a nutritional powerhouse, offering a medley of flavour, texture and health benefits. Despite their culinary allure and proven advantages, a lingering misconception persists – the unfounded notion that nuts contribute to unwanted weight gain. However, a host of scientific research has debunked this myth.
#3: Influence in action: Powerful partnerships amplify the Australian macadamia story
Influencer marketing has emerged as a powerful tool in the modern marketing arsenal, with the potential to deliver impressive results. Leveraging the credibility of popular personalities to connect brands with their target audiences in an authentic and impactful way, it has proven to be an effective component of the Australian Macadamias marketing strategy, helping to expand our global footprint. Last year we partnered with a new generation of influencers in Japan, South Korea, China and Australia, leveraging the trust and connection these food and lifestyle experts have built with their large and engaged audiences.
#4: From extraction to innovation: why macadamia oil is a culinary and cosmetic hero
Macadamia oil is often described as ‘liquid gold’ and a closer look at its health benefits and versatility makes it clear why. Free from cholesterol, sodium, sugar and trans fats, as well as a source of vitamin E, heart-healthy monounsaturated fats, palmitoleic acid and phytosterols, it’s a versatile oil that’s just as at home in domestic kitchens and food products as it is in anti-ageing skincare. In this piece we explored the breadth of its culinary and cosmetic applications, delved into the intricacies of the macadamia oil extraction process, and unpacked why Australian origin matters.
#5: Macadamia innovations: The most noteworthy products of 2024
At the end of last year we reflected on how macadamias had helped drive creativity in the global food and beverage landscape over the previous 12 months. 2024’s product launches highlighted not only the adaptability of this premium ingredient but also the evolving preferences of both manufacturers and consumers. From their rich, buttery taste and delicately crunchy texture to their impressive nutritional benefits, macadamias once again proved their value across diverse applications. In this story we shared our carefully curated list of the most noteworthy macadamia-based products of 2024.
#6: 5 surprising facts about Australia’s 2 main macadamia growing regions
Australia, the natural home of the macadamia tree, boasts a thriving industry rooted in its ancient rainforests. The majority of Australia’s orchards exist along a stretch on the east coast that spans some 2,200 kilometres. The two largest producing regions are the Northern Rivers in New South Wales and Bundaberg in Queensland, and while they’re both considered industry powerhouses, the two regions differ significantly in various respects. This story explored their distinct qualities and uncovered some interesting facts about Australia’s largest macadamia producing regions.
#7: New seasoned macadamia crumb a masterclass in versatility
The launch of a new macadamia product is always exciting, especially when it breaks new ground in terms of flavour and format, and a seasoned macadamia crumb created by Australian macadamia growers did exactly that. A celebration of the smaller ingredient styles of macadamia kernel and their ability to create a delicious and luxurious product, the result is an incredibly versatile range that can be used to enhance red meat, poultry, pork, fish and other seafood, soups, dips, salads, yoghurt, porridge, ice cream and desserts.