RLF’s Vietnam durian trial delivers second season of fruitful gains with 38pc yield surge
RLF AgTech releases positive results from second season of its RLF Durian Nutrition Program in Vietnam, showing stronger yield compared to standard practice in region.
Second season of durian trial in Vietnam confirms stronger yield from RLF’s durian nutrition program
RLF program increased yield by 38% with minimal cost increase, indicating a potential ROI of 10
Company said multi-year positive results confirm the science behind its products and programs
Special Report: RLF AgTech has released positive results from the second season of its RLF Durian Nutrition Program in Vietnam, showing consistent results of stronger yield compared to standard practice/products in the region.
In October 2024 RLF AgTech (ASX: RLF) released its first-year results of the program, demonstrating a clear advantage of using the RLF Durian Nutrition Program compared to growers’ standard practices in the region.
RLF continued the trial for the second year, reporting that the 2025 season continued to show significant improvements in agronomical results with minimal additional cost increase.
The company said the results show a potential 10-times return on investment in the current market conditions by adopting the RLF Durian Nutrition Program.
Evaluating RLF’s crop nutrition products
The RLF Durian Nutrition Program was trialled to evaluate the effectiveness of RLF’s crop nutrition products on durian plants at different developmental stages, including leaf-flushing, flowering, and fruiting.
The orchard was divided into two plots – RLF-treated trees and control trees, which followed conventional farmer practices with traditional fertilisers.
The trial involved durian plants aged three to six years, including a mix of large and small trees.
Growth was measured through canopy diameter and trunk diameter at different stages.
The RLF program followed a nutrient schedule tailored to each stage of plant development.
RLF-treated trees win out on growth and fruit production
RLF-treated trees showed significant improvements in growth and fruit production compared to control trees:
- Canopy diameter – RLF-treated trees grew 58cm over 12 months versus 4cm for control, a 41% improvement
- Trunk diameter – RLF-treated trees increased by 10.6cm over the year compared to 9.1cm for control trees, a 17% increase
- Fruit production – RLF-treated trees produced 36.8 fruits per tree versus 33.9 for control trees, an 8.6% increase.
Total fruit weight per RLF-treated tree increased by 38% (151.5kg versus 109.7kg), with individual fruit weight 27% higher (4.1kg versus 3.2kg).
Yield for the 2025 durian season was 1666 kg for the RLF-treated trees, which was 38% higher than the control group’s 1206 kg.
The results indicate the RLF program enhanced both the quantity and quality of durian fruit, with improved yield resulting from more robust fruit development rather than simply a higher number of fruits.
Total input costs were only $75 or 4% higher at $2,151 versus $2,076.
RLF said with fruit selling at ~$2 per kg, the additional yield generated $778 in extra income delivering a 10 times return on investment.
Source: RLF AgTech
Delivering economic benefits to farmers
RLF said data from the second harvest season confirm that applying the RLF nutritional program can significantly improve durian yield and deliver substantial economic benefits to farmers.
RLF-treated trees exhibited better canopy expansion, trunk diameter growth, and overall vitality.
These agronomic benefits translated into higher yields, increased profits, and improved profit rates.
Results of the trial have boosted RLF’s confidence in investing and expanding in the Vietnam region and beyond, with independent Australian trials results also in the final stages of completion.
RLF’s acting managing director Gavin Ball said the company was delighted to see its products and programs have shown consistent improvements in both the quality and the yield of the crop on a multi-year level.
“These multi-year positive results confirm the science behind our products and programs, boosting our confidence in expanding our presence in the region and beyond,” he said.“We are also excited to be at the final harvest stage of our substantial Australian-based 2025 trial program.
“These results will be used to help demonstrate how RLF products can support Australian growers focused on improving farm viability for the 2026 season, and we look forward to sharing outcomes once all final data are collected and reported.”
This article was developed in collaboration with RLF AgTech, a Stockhead advertiser at the time of publishing.
This article does not constitute financial product advice. You should consider obtaining independent advice before making any financial decisions.
