Hon Alannah MacTiernan MLC, WA Minister of Regional Development, Agriculture and Food, Hydrogen Industry, Media Release, 3 November 2021

The McGowan Government has today launched guides to help Aboriginal businesses increase their representation in Western Australia’s burgeoning bushfoods industry.

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

The two guides, ‘Setting up for success: Bushfoods’ and ‘Protection of Indigenous Ecological Knowledge for Bushfood Businesses’, highlight the risks and opportunities for Aboriginal businesses, as well as promoting best practices for industry.

The Setting up for success: Bushfoods ‘how-to’ guide identifies the product development, governance, funding and legal considerations for producing, harvesting, manufacturing, developing and selling bushfoods.

The second guide, Protection of Indigenous Ecological Knowledge for Bushfood Businesses, 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.

A Statement of Understanding was also today signed between DPIRD’s Aboriginal Economic Development unit and Outback Academy Australia, a not-for-profit, national facing First Nations-led organisation.

This partnership supports the work Outback Academy Australia does in capacity and capability building for Aboriginal regenerative farmers across Australia in a wide range of industries including bushfoods.

Comments attributed to Agriculture and Food Minister Alannah MacTiernan:

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

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

“In 2019, the Australian bushfoods industry was valued at $21.5 million at the farm gate, but Aboriginal businesses account for less than 15 per cent of this million-dollar industry.”

“These guides, and the partnership formed today with Outback Academy Australia, will boost the success and representation of Aboriginal businesses in the bushfoods industry.”

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