Landmark Horticulture

This study explores Landmark Horticulture, an Australian agri-business that specializes in horticulture. It discusses the business, its products and services, revenue units, and analyzes the external and internal environment. Recommendations for future strategic directions are also provided.

Running head: LANDMARK
Landmark Horticulture
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

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Table of Contents
Introduction................................................................................................................................2
Discussion..................................................................................................................................2
The business...........................................................................................................................2
The products and service lines...............................................................................................3
Business revenue units...........................................................................................................4
Analysis of external environment (PESTLE)........................................................................5
Analysis of the internal environment.....................................................................................7
Resource.............................................................................................................................7
Capabilities.........................................................................................................................7
Core competencies.............................................................................................................7
Competitive advantages.....................................................................................................7
Recommendations for future strategic directions for the business........................................8
Conclusion..................................................................................................................................9
References:...............................................................................................................................10

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Introduction
Horticulture is a science in which plants are studied for their food, comfort, medicinal, beauty
and aesthetic value. Horticulture not only involves the growing of flowers but also vegetables
and fruits for the purpose of ornamentation, fancy or for other practical purposes. In
Australia, Horticulture is a growing sector within agri-business that focuses on the
sustainable and long-term management of plants as natural resources and thereby provides
the Australian population with healthy and good quality plant products. The horticultural
practices significantly influence several agro businesses within Australia through the
standards of plant care. The horticulture also supplements animal husbandry as the products
of the horticultural industry can often provide a source of sustenance for animal husbandry.
The science of horticulture also allows the farming of exotic species of fruits, flowers and
plants that have high economic value and prove scientific tools that can allow the agri-
businesses to increase their productivity and performance (Landmarkflowers.ca 2019).
The aim of the study is to analyses a horticulture focused agri-business sector in Australia,
identify their service and products, revenue lines, its internal and external environment.
Based on this understanding, recommendations for suture strategic direction for the business
would also be made.
Discussion
The business
Landmark is an Australian agri-business hat has been operational for more than 150 years and
has established its position as a market leader having a wide diversity of products within the
agricultural industry. The organization has expertise in a range of farming sectors such as
livestock farming, wool farming, agricultural services, merchandise, insurance as well as real

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estate. Moreover, the organization is also one of the largest distributor of farming supplies
and fertilizers serving more than hundred thousand clients over four hundred locations and
employing more than sixteen hundred experts in farming. Landmark is one of the biggest
Horticultural business in Australia because of which the assessment of the industry can be
best understood keeping in mind the market value and expansion of horticulture over the
years which allows to grab a holistic view on the internal and external horticultural business
environment in Australia.
The organization provides several horticultural products which include bio stimulants, crop
protection products, fruit, vegetable and viticulture products, gardens and amenities, general
supplies related to horticulture, nurseries and cut flowers and plant nutrition services. The
organization has a mission to provide an unrivaled experience for the customers providing an
extensive range of merchandise and products, showing an unwavering commitment towards
service and quality and maintain strong relationships with suppliers. The organization is a
part of Nutrient which is the largest provider of crop nutrient, crop feed as well as crop
protection services around the world. Landmark moreover focuses on the increase of food
production in a sustainable way. Since its establishment, Landmark has maintained its
position as the market leaders and has incorporated sustainable practices in Agriculture and
horticulture through innovation and best practice standards. The business units within the
organization include livestock, wool, precision technology, insurance, finance, real estate and
horticulture. The horticulture service moreover, focuses on the supply of quality services and
products through which it’s maintaining its market capture (Sawyer 2019).
The products and service lines

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Landmark Horticulture has a wide variety of catalogue of horticulture products that is aimed
to suit the diverse needs of the customers. These products and service lines are catalogue
below:
 Choice Weather Master: This is a conditioning agent that can be used with
agricultural chemicals to condition the plants to varied weather conditions.
 Water Maxx 2: This product can help plant growers to make better use of water by
improving the movement of water through soil and therefore maintain the
productivity of the crops.
 LI 700: This is a soy-oil derived product which provides a non-ionic, penetrating,
surfactant that can help to reduce the off-targets pay drift as well as reducing the pH
of spray water.
 Liberate: this is an uptake, enhancing, surfactant blend that can be used with
pesticides that requires non-ionic surfactant and can be used to reduce drifting fines.
 MSO with Loci-Tech: This is a methylated seed oil that has highest concentrations
and qualities of the available components.
 Weather Gard Complete: Weather Gard complete is a formulation that contains agents
for drift reduction as well as anti-foams, penetrant and water conditioner which is
applied as a liquid formulation in an easy to use way.
 Pillar: This is a low salt, safe for seeds that can be used with pop in, furrow starter
fertilizers and contains micro nutrients that can improve the vigor of the seeing
process as we as support better plant health and yield of crops.
 Awaken ST: this is a seed treatment service that uses ACA technology that contains
zinc ammonium acetate (ZAA) with micro nutrient packages. This service helps in the
improve f plant biomass by promoting the growth of roots. The coatings contain
essential nutrients that can improve early vigor of seeds and promote better yield.

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 Tri-CarboN: this is an improvised liquid fertilizer that can provide a safe stable
efficient and more available nitrogen that can be taken up by the plants thereby
increasing the productivity of the soil and the plant.
Business revenue units
The business revenue units of Landmark Horticulture include the following:
 Sales of horticultural products: this is the biggest revenue unit of Landmark as the
organization has a large catalogue of products which are aimed to bring profits for the
organization. Landmark believes in the providence of high quality product. This
revenue unit forms the biggest focus for Landmark as it constantly develops new
products through research and development to implement the best technologies
available in Horticulture.
 Horticultural services: The company provides several services for Horticulture such as
pest control, increase in yield awareness, water conditioning and soil conditioning
services as well as providing support to the farmers to implement better technologies
in Horticulture and plant protection
 Consultation services: Landmark also provides consultation services on plant
nutrition, nursery maintenance, gardening, crop protection, bio stimulant use and
viticulture through their skilled and expert workforce which also helps to generate
significant revenue for the business.
 Financing services: Landmark also provides financing services to the farmers in the
form of loans and startup funds as well as provides financial support for procurement
of raw materials and farming products. Insurances for yield protection are also given
by the organization to the farmers to support best outcomes for the industry.
(Wang et al. 2015)

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Analysis of external environment (PESTLE)
Using the PESTLE analysis, the macro environment that can impact the decisions of the
organization can be analyzed. Outlined below is the PESTLE analysis of the external
environment of Landmark Horticulture:
Political: the political environment of the country where Landmark operates (Australia) is
very stable which provides good opportunities for multi-national companies for a stable
growth. Moreover, the legal framework is transparent, efficient and free of corruption.
Economic: The Australian economy has seen a strong growth of capital and prices of
commercial properties die to which returns of investment have increased in real estate as well
as many other industries. For agricultural industries, the economic prosperity has also
supported better uses of technology and productivity.
Social: The social factors that impacts Landmark includes the focus on manual work that
forms the nucleus of the labor class in Australia. However, the Australian culture is socially
stratified due to which differences in economic status and wages still exists.
Technological: The technological factors that have promoted the growth of organizations
such as Landmark includes the breakthroughs in agricultural technologies through extensive
research and development that has provided sufficient know-how to develop better products
for Horticulture.
Environmental: The global climatic change and radical changes in weather patterns is a
significant problem that is agro businesses including Horticultural businesses like Landmark
Horticulture as it can affect the growth and productivity of the crops and the soil and
therefore the success of the industry.

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Legal: The legal factors that can impact Landmark includes laws related to minimum wage,
employment, waste management, occupational health and safety, employee welfare and
legislations related to organizational codes of conduct. These factors can provide a
framework for the organization to maintain best practices in business.
(Reilly et al. 2018)
Analysis of the internal environment
The internal environment of the organization can be analyzed through four important factors
that influence the sustainability of the business. These factors are briefly analyzed below:
Resource
The organization has abundant resources in the form of finances, expertise and workforce
skills through which it has maintained its leadership position in the market for several years.
The organization generates revenues of 11.2 Billion USD in a year which it channels t its
research and development units as well as marketing divisions for effective product
development and promotion.
Capabilities
The organization has a strong workforce who is highly skilled and knowledgeable in
Horticulture including several experts in the field who have done extensive researches
through which the organization has developed extensive knowledge in the domain. Moreover,
the organizational culture is highly focused on growth and development adding to its
organizational capabilities.
Core competencies
Some of the core competencies of Landmark’s workforce includes its innovation, creative
thinking, focus of research and development, clarity, strong inter personal communication,

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strong focus and drive towards excellence and maintenance of best practices to ensure best
outcomes.
Competitive advantages
The factors that provides Landmark its key competitive advantage includes its market
capture, the experience in the market which it has generated for more than 150 years, its
significant skills and expertise in the form of workforce excellence and a strong marketing
division through the organization has maintained strong relations with its customers as well
as suppliers.
(Zull et al. 2017; Ajay and Taylor 2018)
Recommendations for future strategic directions for the business
The following recommendations can be suggested for Landmark Horticulture to further
improve its market share and maintain its position as the market leader.
 Increasing focus on Horticulture services and consultation: Landmark should increase
th focus on providing services and consultation instead of concentrating mainly on
Horticultural products. The significant knowledge and experience of the company can
make it a very trust worthy consultant as well as service provider.
 Investing in sustainable Horticulture practices: Investment in sustainable practices in
Horticulture should be increased within the company in order to show the
commitment of the organization towards environmental sustainability and also to
develop a good image of sustainable business in the market. Sustainable practices can
also ensure better uses of resources thereby increasing organizational efficiency and
optimization.

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 Promoting strong organizational culture that is based on inclusiveness: It is important
that Landmark should focus on the development of an inclusive culture in the
workforce through which it can maintain a positive as well as diverse culture that is
innovative, flexible as well as efficient. The inclusive work culture can furthermore
facilitate better engagement of the employees with the organization.
 Engaging in the mitigation of global climatic change through CSR activities:
Engaging in CSR activities thought which the organization can work towards the
mitigation of the effects of environmental change can not only promote the sustenance
of the agricultural business but also the brand image and reputation. CSR activities
can also propagate awareness of the brand among the customers thereby helping to
develop competitive advantage.
(Underhill and Underhill 2016; Acuna et al. 2019)
Conclusion
From the above study the organizational environments both external and internal faced by
Landmark Horticulture has been evaluated that helped to understand how the organization
has maintained its position as the leaders in the business. The PESTLE analysis helped to
understand the external environment that can have significant influences on th business
decisions and strategic directions and therefore a point of important focus for the
management. Internal factors such as the organizational resources, capabilities, core
competencies and competitive advantages has been evaluated to understand how it promotes
success and growth of the business and also to understand key challenges thee business can
face within its organization. several recommendations are made which can further promote
success and growth of the business as it can allow the business to attain new avenues of
success and secure better position in the market. The recommendations are aimed to address a

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diverse set of needs of the business both in terms of its productivity, efficiency as well as
employee engagement. It can be concluded that Landmark Horticulture has a positive
trajectory in the market and by following the recommendations its can further support its
sustainability and success.

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horticulture industry.

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