A major new national project has been launched to ensure Aboriginal voices and knowledge are at the heart of Australia’s growing bush food industry.
The project, called Yoordaninj-bah - Growing the Australian Bush Produce Industry with Aboriginal Participation, is being led and facilitated by the Noongar Land Enterprise Group (NLE). Funded by Food Innovation Australia Limited (FIAL), it will run from 2019 to 2022.
Its purpose is to work with Aboriginal communities, businesses and networks across the country to explore how bush food enterprises can deliver economic, health, environmental and cultural benefits.
It also seeks to create an inclusive industry that recognises the cultural and sacred knowledge Aboriginal people bring, while providing opportunities for consumers to support Aboriginal participation through the products they buy.
NLE chairperson Oral McGuire said the project represented a unique opportunity for Aboriginal people to help shape the industry from the ground up.
“Aboriginal people have looked after these plants and this country for tens of thousands of years. We have the cultural knowledge that can guide this industry, and the aspiration to be directly involved in building enterprises that are ethical, sustainable and community-driven.”
As part of its work, Yoordaninj-bah will conduct a national feasibility study to identify bush food species with commercial potential, while also exploring their nutritional and medicinal value.
The project will develop ethical and cultural protocols to ensure Aboriginal Law and Australian law can work together, protecting Aboriginal intellectual property and interests.
Other outcomes include a business case for a Bush Food Incubation Hub at Avondale Farm near Beverley, which would provide a space for knowledge-sharing and innovation while ensuring cultural protocols are respected.
Mr McGuire said the project’s strength lies in its collaborative approach.
“This is not just about building an industry - it’s about creating an industry that is fair, respectful and inclusive. By working together, we can ensure the bush food sector grows in a way that benefits Aboriginal people.”
