Native Food - 2003-2004

Background

Australia is one of the few countries in the world that has not developed its indigenous food supply for a totally unique food experience.

The native food industry is still emerging and although indigenous people have been eating native foods for 40,000 years and there have been producers commercially growing our native plants since early colonial settlement, it has yet to realise its full potential mainly because of a lack of a coordinated approach.

In addition, a significant percentage of the produce is still wild harvested which creates issues of food safety, continuity of supply and product consistency.

The estimated size of the industry at a national level is quoted at $10m (RIRDC May 2000).

Objectives

  • Identification of obstacles to the native food industry such as the current food safety standards, critical mass issues, supply chain development and develop actions to overcome them.
  • Identify new native food product opportunities for South Australia particularly as higher value opportunities for low quality land in SA's cereal belt.
  • Support the development of a supply chain for indigenous communities who grow native foods.
  • Support the development of an umbrella brand as an integrated market driven demand chain model for native food products.

Key Achievements

  • Strategy mapped for the development areas of the South Australian native food industry.
  • Establishment of a State forum to discuss native food projects within indigenous communities with a view to supporting current projects and to prevent duplication.
  • Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) developed between key agencies to support the native food project within indigenous communities.
  • Supply chain established for indigenous communities growing native food.
  • Non indigenous South Australian growers currently establishing a SA Native Food Peak Body.

Project Leader:  Mark Drew