Guiding Aboriginal bushfood businesses to success

In 2019, the Australian bushfoods industry was reportedly valued at $21.5 million at the farm gate, but Aboriginal businesses account for less than 15% of the industry.

The McGowan government has now launched guides to help Aboriginal businesses increase their representation in Western Australia's burgeoning bushfoods industry.

“Domestic and international interest in Australian bushfoods is growing, presenting a fantastic opportunity for Aboriginal people to drive this growth,” said Agriculture and Food Minister Alannah MacTiernan.

“These practical guides will help to grow the emerging Aboriginal bushfoods industry in Western Australia.”

The two practical guides were presented to existing and aspiring Aboriginal businesses at a bushfood industry event held in November by the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) in partnership with Outback Academy Australia.

Each guide highlights the risks and opportunities for Aboriginal businesses, as well as promoting best practices for industry:

• The ‘Setting up for success: Bushfoods’ guide identifies the product development, governance, funding and legal considerations for producing, harvesting, manufacturing, developing and selling bushfoods.
• The ‘Protection of Indigenous Ecological Knowledge for Bushfood Businesses’ guide provides an overview of the challenges and opportunities for Aboriginal businesses. It discusses international and national obligations regarding bushfoods, access and benefit sharing, and best practice protocols for the protection of Indigenous cultural and intellectual property.

The guides are available for download at: https://www.agric.wa.gov.au/aboriginal-business-development-0.

Image credit: ©stock.adobe.com/au/mastersky