Australian Native Food Industry Stocktake

Summary

The Australian Native Food Industry requires a stocktake and situation assessment to guide effort in market and product development, policy development, future research investment and lobbying for support. At present there is no reliable information available for the actual value of the industry, the number of producers and valueadders, employment and the number and type of products grown and processed. For each of the thirteen priority species, the project will address: Production location Enterprise characteristics – wild harvest, cultivated, etc Product forms and uses– fresh, frozen, dried, ground, milled, processed, etc Production volume and variability Supply status and trends– under or over supplied Product supply chains – wild harvesters, nurseries, growers, distributors/wholesalers, processors/value adding, retailers, restaurants, export, associations (eg research groups or marketing alliances) Enterprise numbers and sizes, employment, production values and business details (to allow database production) for each link in the supply chain Markets and market trends Indigenous participation details and future native food industry opportunities Species specific strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats The stocktake and situation assessment will follow the format used by Michael Clarke to prepare the RIRDC Asian Foods Situation Assessment and seven Taking Stock and Setting Directions reports for the DAFF Industry Partnerships Programme. The stocktake will evolve and grow as we learn more about the industry and its needs. Stocktake and situation assessment results will be analysed and brief suggestions for response strategies documented for each of: Market development Policy formulation Direct research investment Lobbying initiatives Indigenous participation Development of a sustainable industry sector Product development

Program

New and Emerging Plant Industries

Research Organisation

AgEconPlus Pty Ltd

Objective Summary

1. To prepare a robust stocktake and situation assessment of the Australian native foods industry 2. To analyse situation assessment findings and determine implications for R&D and strategy development 3. To deliver a survey questionnaire that could be used in the future to update the stocktake 4. To deliver a simple industry database of willing contacts