Stilbocarpa polaris is easily propagated by rhizome cuttings but grows very slowly. It requires temperatures below about 20° C. It must be cooked to make it palatable and has less visual appeal than the other species. It scores well for taste, but less well for texture. It has higher starch content than the other species, but lower vitamin content.

• Production was constrained by limited information to enable and ensure a quality product.

• Manufacturing/retailing was constrained by a lack of generic marketing, inconsistent marketing terminology, and minimal understanding of the uses of native bushfoods on the part of potential consumers.

The report provides a description of the research undertaken, as well as its findings with the following report sections:

• Review of key literature and information regarding the bushfood industry (section 2, with detailed information in Appendix I).
• Issues to be considered in developing a bushfood industry database (section 3).
• Consultation with the bushfood industry on a bushfood industry database (section 4).
• Synthesis of consultation findings into a user requirements specification (section 5).
• Design of the database from the user requirements specification (section 6).
• Implementation strategy for the database (section 7).
• Conclusions (section 8).

• References used in the report (section 9).

• Review of information on bushfood (Appendix I).
• Individuals and organisations contacted for consultation (Appendix II).
• Questionnaire used for consulting with the bushfood industry on the bushfood industry database (Appendix III).
• Background information used in consulting with the bushfood industry on the bushfood industry database (Appendix IV).
• Summary of consultation process: a paper provided to respondents for any additional comments following the consultation process (Appendix V).

A single central database was not viable, because of lack of general support and little need for more information of a general nature.

An internet based set of smaller, specialist databases would be viable because of:

widespread support within growers/harvesters/processors; and 

low maintenance costs, with each database being managed by its appropriate group (or association).

These smaller, specialist databases can nevertheless be linked together under a top-level internet site, to provide an overall public face for the Australian bushfood industry. This site, potentially called the "Australian Bushfood Industry Database" could provide an overall structure, but at the same time allow a level of individuality for the different specialist databases.

The top-level internet site, with links to the smaller, specialist databases, could most effectively be provided (and funded) by government.

The smaller, specialist databases, would most effectively be provided (and funded) by the different specialist groups (or associations) that have information relevant to some aspect of the bushfood industry, and which wish to link to the top-level internet site.

Groups (or associations) in the bushfood industry that are not yet ready to have such an internet presence can link to the top-level internet site at a later date.

Demand must expand to the middle market with some urgency and mainstream products established before the Olympics, which provides a strategic link to continued overseas expansion. As identified in RIRDC Research Report No 97/22 and also in the Victorian Food Industry’s Indigenous Food Processing Feasibility Study 1999, the determination of the current perception of bushfood (native food) and re-positioning as necessary, is crucial to developing successful marketing strategies.

This study focused upon the two markets of food service and manufacturers, which are the volume areas for short to medium returns and building these markets, indirectly addresses the more difficult (and expensive) task of educating the general consumer. 

The individual in-depth interviews were conducted by either telephone or face-to-face and interviewees included leading chefs in both Sydney and Melbourne grouped as user or non-users of native ingredients. Additionally, equal numbers of food media in these cities were interviewed. 

Stimulus inputs used in the groups included ranges of packs of foods with bush ingredients (teas, relishes, sauces, juices, biscuits etc), pictures of dishes containing native ingredients along with a descriptive name for the dish, books, category descriptors, potential product concepts and positioning concepts.

• There is at least a segment of top class chefs and influential food writers who are enthusiastic about and strongly believe in native foods, which they see as underdeveloped. This is critical since it is very clear that there is a powerful top-down impact on the broader market’s food adoption trends.

• The category has inherent distinctive and powerful values, which could be further exploited to better advantage; those opinion leaders who support native foods, focus on two essential and strong benefits which should underpin wider marketing activity.

1. A number of the ingredients are perceived to have real food interest. 
2. Native foods are also thought to have the capacity to bring another dimension, an exciting and unique Australian flavour to the country’s rapidly evolving cuisine. 

• There is strong interest at the consumer level in "the new bush flavours". Admittedly, this is greatest amongst those with a keener interest in food (the foodies). However, their early adoption of the new, often migrates to the broader market, even if sometimes simplified.

• The project analysed various drying technologies for drying the duckweed (the plant is 92-94% water) and worked on converting the dried duckweed into a feed for animals and fish.

Research on using the duckweed on the rations of domestic animals has been scarce, therefore this project was aimed at finding ways to dry the duckweed and use the dried plant as a high protein feed supplement for animals.

Duckweed can cleanse the wastewater and become a high protein plant, in the process.

Results from the two Peking duck trials and the shedded sheep trials are being prepared for publications.

• an overview of the published literature relevant to the culture of cashew in Australia;
• an Australian Cashew Growers’ Manual; and 
• a mechanism for regularly updating the manual and maintaining on-going contact within the Australian cashew industry.

Existing and potential cashew growers at the RIRDC Review of Cashew R&D Workshop held in August 1996 at Kuranda, North Queensland, strongly supported the need for a manual of ‘best estimate’ management practices to guide decision making in the Australian cashew industry. This project aims to provide an Information Support System to assist in the establishment of an Australian cashew industry that is sustainable, economically viable, and environmentally neutral.

Research 

Key resource people critically reviewed of the literature relevant to their area of specialisation; these overviews were made available to all participants at an Information Gathering Workshop.

Australian Cashew Growers’ Manual: A three-step process was used:

• An Information Gathering Workshop was held, facilitated by QDPI Agrilink Project team members, at which key resource people (members of the Australian cashew industry and cashew researchers from CSIRO, QDPI, QDNR, AGRIC. WA, and NTDPIF) provided input for the manual.
• Preparation and editing of the various drafts of the manual was undertaken by a joint CSIRO-QDPI editorial team. The first and penultimate drafts were checked by the resource personnel.
• Marketing of the manual will be undertaken by the QDPI Agrilink Project.

• World trade exceeds A$3 billion, and is increasing steadily.
• Australian imports of cashew kernel are valued at A$20–35 million annually, and demand is increasing steadily.
• CSIRO has produced high-yielding, precocious hybrids that have kernels with superior quality to that available from our overseas competitors.
• Northern Australia has sufficient areas with suitable soil with local water resources to become a net exporter of cashews.
• Recent developments provide for a fully mechanised operation, including harvesting, processing and shelling, within Australia.
• The cultural requirements of the cashew tree under Australian conditions are better understood.

The manual is expected to play a major role in encouraging new investors into the infant Australian cashew industry where it will play an important role as a source of ‘best practices’ for the establishment and management of new and existing cashew plantations.

Industry interest in the project is high with many requests for information and two contract research projects are currently under negotiation

Chennell A.L., Tomkins R.B., Franz P.R., (1998). The storage potential of fresh culinary herbs. Proceedings 4^th Australian Horticulture Conference. 14-18^th October 1998 (Poster and Abstract). Carlton Crest Hotel, Melbourne.

Tomkins, R.B. and Chennell, A.L. (1998) Postharvest handling and packaging of culinary herbs. Proceedings. Herb Conference 1998. 4-5^th July, p53-61. Dookie College, Dookie, Victoria.

• outline how and why rural communities establish new industry businesses for their advantage,
• clarify the role of interventionists, government, consultants and other stakeholders in new industry development,
• build alliances of skills and resources to deliver on new industry opportunities,
• highlight the importance of new rural industries in the wider community,
• present developed approaches and frameworks for new industry development,
• highlight new industry opportunities and
• capture and disseminate research findings.

Agriculture Western Australia established a New Industries Program in 1996 in response global changes in agricultural production, processing and marketing. They are mindful of the need to build partnerships to foster new industries and identified a New Rural Industries Conference as an integral process in the formation of these collaborative partnerships.

The conference highlighted significant challenges for the Australian agriculture sector. Key recommendations include;

• fostering the development of a national approach to new industry development
• conducting the Delphi Report ‘Australia’s expert view on how to accelerate new industry development’ biennially to act as a qualitative benchmark for progress towards effective support and development of new agricultural industries,
• developing Agriculture Western Australia's New Industries Program’s national new industries fellowship as an annual initiative and

• presenting the national new rural industries conference biennially.

• Firstly jojoba oil uses and substitutes were identified by surveying current and potential oil users in Australia and overseas. 
• Secondly, based on available literature and survey responses, market size, characteristics, contacts, prices and competition information was compiled.
• Thirdly based on all available information, a combined market supply and demand outlook statement was prepared. 
• Finally the Personal Care Ingredients Asia international conference in Shanghai, China in April 1999 was attended by two industry representatives and the consultant to assess first hand the potential for export customers and confirm phone contacts.

The area planted to jojoba is expected to double to 700 hectares in the next few years, whilst production is expected to more than double due to the increasing yields per hectare of recent plantings. By year 2001 domestic production (approximately 28 tonne) will exceed current official consumption estimates ( 17.5 to 22.5 tonnes per annum).

The Australian jojoba oil market is between 20 and 50 tonnes per annum. The largest domestic market sectors are the resellers and industrial users. However the highest value user is the cosmetics and personal care sector.

The international market for jojoba oil is dominated by low cost high volume producing Argentina and by the value added product originating from the United States. Worldwide production is increasing and the product is finding its way into the main stream cosmetics products. 

In terms of export opportunities, the cosmetics industry should be targeted. In terms of export markets, the further growth potential of existing significant markets, ie Singapore and New Zealand should be reviewed.

Argentina’s success in securing a low cost product for volume cosmetic markets and US success in producing high cost derivative products for cosmetic markets should also be analysed.

Finally, the Australian Jojoba Industry should adopt certification standards in line with US standards to facilitate overseas purchase of Australian product.

PO Box 196

ATHERTON QLD 4883

• The objective of this project was to produce a Strategic Plan for the longan industry to use as a basis for future investment decisions by growers, other government bodies and the RIRDC.

To achieve this a research levy was proposed but a prerequisite both of Government and the QFVG for such a levy was a Strategic Plan.

Prior to the meeting a prioritisation worksheet allowing the ranking and suggestion of issues was sent out to all longan growers to aid the facilitator in carrying out the workshop.

Introductory technical information concerning the research need:

There was no single document or policy setting out the problems of the industry and preferred future directions.

The benefits to Far North Queensland Longan Growers Association, who in effect represent the Australian industry through Queensland wide membership, have been to accurately identify future actions at an industry level. 

This can be done in the knowledge that it has the consensus of the major proportion of the industry. The cost to achieve this has been relatively small.

• to identify opportunities in Australia to: produce non-wood fibres by diversifying agricultural practices and growing special crops; and to develop non-wood fibre products by utilising agricultural residues from cereal straw, bagasse and other crops. 
• to determine: which fibres have the greatest potential for profitability and market growth; and which products are the most suitable for development in Australia.

Although it may appear economically viable to manufacture panel board from straw, a new venture is unlikely to succeed, because two major companies dominate the local market in which there is excess capacity. 

There are significant opportunities for bast fibres to be used in the manufacture of non-woven industrial textiles, particularly for insulation materials (replacing fibreglass batts) and automotive interior textiles, such as door panels and floor mats. 

Kenaf would be the most economical fibre to produce for non-woven applications, because of its high growth rate. The dryland conditions in Australia are ideally suited to the production of the un-retted fibre which is utilised in these products. 

The market for composite materials is in its infancy, and requires detailed study. The automotive market is the furthest advanced and has a particular interest in bast fibres because of their biodegradability.

There may be a small business opportunity in the production of hemp oil seed for nutrition, cosmetic and pharmaceutical applications.

Developments in bast fibre retting technology should be monitored and assessed, to determine their potential to deliver a competitive advantage to Australia. Key requirements are the production extremely high quality fibre, with low water usage and minimal impact on the environment.

• those areas in Australia that are suited for the production of ginseng; 
• factors involved in seed germination;
• factors involved in root dormancy;
• cultivars appropriate for Australian growing condition; and 
• test the feasibility of tissue culture for reproducing ginseng cultivars.

• Firstly the establishment of the factors limiting the range for successfully growing ginseng and identifying such boundaries. 
• Secondly determining ways of reducing seed germination time while maintaining or increasing viability. 
• Thirdly understanding annual root dormancy. 
• Fourthly searching for cultivars to determine their suitability for Australian conditions. 
• Finally assessing tissue culture as a means of commercial mass micropropagation.

The software program CLIMEX was used to generate a similar map for Australia. 

In the eastern states the causal factor for the northern limit to ginseng cultivation appears to be a lack of lengthy low temperatures; the western limit appears to be low rainfall.

In both main ginseng species, seed dormancy can be overcome physically by an extended period of cold or chemically by the use of gibberellic acid. Root dormancy can also be overcome by extended cold or the use of gibberellic acid. The best estimate for the cold requirement is 100 days of 10° C or less.

No cultivars of Panax quinquefolius are known. Recent research in South Korea has identified a few cultivars of Panax ginseng the commercial characteristics of which are yet to be determined. Such cultivars have not been imported nor tested for Australian conditions.

Tissue culture is relatively easy with both main ginseng species. Optimal physical and chemical conditions are yet to be determined. Laboratories overseas are working to identify such parameters.

The use of prechilling seed prior to harvest could be successfully used in warmer climates to reduce seed germination by one year with concomitant increases in profit for growers. The use of gibberellic acid to reduce seed germination by a similar amount could be used in all climates.

Tissue culture holds great promise for the future of the ginseng industry. Australian growers and researchers could develop and control significant intellectual property involving ginseng cultivars but only if a commercially viable tissue culture process is available.

• To better understand, strengthen and develop the Australian Olive product market.
• To enhance the human capital of the Australian Olive industry.
• Attract financial capital to the Australian Olive industry.
• Disseminate information on research and development opportunities.
• Establish industry networks.

1.Overcome the emphasis on the production end of the industry, ensuring industry structures have representation from all stages of the supply chain.

2. Develop strategies for market entry for Australian olive products.

3. Conduct detailed research into the table olive market.

Hazelnut trees are cross pollinated. The pollen shed by the male catkins is blown through the orchard and trapped by the small female flowers as it drifts, so timing of pollen shed and female bloom between genetically compatible varieties is critical for effective pollination and nut production.

Automatic weather-recording equipment has been installed at each site to monitor weather conditions and assess the effects of them on growth and production. Measurements are being made of tree growth and the period of flowering for each variety. 

When the trees produce nuts, yields and kernel quality will be assessed.

A few nut samples have been obtained at Orange in the summer of 1998. These samples, with data on periods of pollen shed and female bloom, are being used to describe and assess the varieties.

The trials need to be conducted for at least another 4 years to obtain data on varietal performance.

Baldwin, B. and Snare, L. 1996. Hazelnut varietal research. Proceedings of the 1996 ANIC Conference, Australian Nutgrower, pp. 52-56.

Baldwin, B. 1998. Hazelnuts in the New Rural Industries. A handbook for farmers and investors .ed. K.W. Hyde, Rural Industries and Development Corporation, Canberra. 

Baldwin, B.,Snare, L. & Gilchrist,K. 1998 Evaluating hazelnut varieties under differing climatic conditions Australian Nutgrower, vol. 12, no.3, pp 23-26.