Case study
Don’t ambient dry. Control your cure.
A like-for-like comparison on a KwaZulu-Natal macadamia farm, measuring the move from traditional ambient drying to controlled curing.
A smarter way to cure
Real results from the field.
In 2022, a KwaZulu-Natal macadamia farm partnered with DryMac to compare controlled curing and a rubber-blade dehusker against the ambient drying and chain dehusking approach used in prior seasons.
The study focused on nut quality, kernel recovery and grading outcomes, while also tracking curing speed and consistency.
The numbers that matter
Controlled curing changed the outcome.
+21%
increase in style 0 nuts
+70%
increase in style 1 nuts
−30%
drying-time reduction
Side-by-side
Ambient drying vs controlled curing.
| Feature | Ambient Drying | Controlled Curing |
|---|---|---|
| Uniformity | High variance in moisture content | EMC-based control supports consistent drying |
| Kernel recovery | Lower due to uneven drying | Higher with better shell/kernel moisture control |
| Moisture control | No direct control over time, temperature or humidity | System monitors and controls curing conditions |
| Curing time | About 3 weeks, with variable results | Final cure in roughly 6–7 days |
| Weather impact | Strongly affected by ambient humidity | Designed to operate independently of ambient swings |
These figures come from the original DryMac/Wix case-study content. Results can vary by farm, harvest, system setup and operating conditions.