Australian Sandalwood (Santalum spicatum) is a parasite that requires a host tree. It attaches itself to the roots of its host tree allowing the procurement of water and other nutrients it requires. Sandalwood like most important food crops has a healthy appetite for nitrogen (the fossil fuel fertilizer), however this need can be fulfilled through entirely organic means. Acacias, which are legumes (biologically produce nitrogen), can be used as host trees. The sandalwood simply steals the nitrogen as the host tree produces it, rather like a fertilizer factory.

Because these trees are perennial, meaning they are long lived, farmers can further reduce diesel use on the farm because these trees only need to be planted once. If you take wheat for example, it needs to be planted every year and this requires a lot of energy (hence cost). As if this wasn't enough, the sandalwood trees then produce crops of oil rich nuts. The sandalwood nut is ~60% oil and ~18% protein making it a highly nutritious food source and also a potential biofuel crop.

The plantings are biologically diverse and the recolonization of the system by birds and wildlife is truly unbelievable. Salinity issues are being dealt with in a manner that becomes profitable for the farmer. This is surely the world's first model of a truly sustainable and highly profitable farming system. And it is one that Aaron is passionate about.