Highlights of 2007/08

• A ‘Value Chain Walk-Through’ took Aboriginal harvesters and producers on a physical journey from harvest to table and allowed them to interlink with wholesalers, processors, manufacturers, distributors, retailers and restaurateurs.
• The Indigenous Engagement Pilot Programincreased knowledge and information transfer and developed connections between Aboriginal people involved in the desert bush foods industry in central Australia and the Kimberley region of WA.
• Continued to build on participatory research partnerships such as that with Max and Ruth Emery of Rainbow Valley. Facilitated links to information, advice on share-farming models, market connections and developing ongoing research activities with the Emerys at their property.
• Our horticulture trial tested whether bush tomatoes can be successfully commercially grown in the desert, propagating and growing 8000 plants under horticultural conditions. Research confirmed that plants grown from the wild have extreme yield variability, different growing characteristics and high variance in fruit size and flavour. The key to successful operations will be the management of this variability.
• ‘Low-tech’ and ‘high-tech’ harvesting methods were trialled, from basic winnowing to mechanical harvesting. The trial collected data on total yield, fruit/plant damage, debris in the product, and working towards the generation of two production cycles per season.
• The research trial site provided access to Aboriginal groups, including students who have expressed an interest in growing bush tomatoes, and has been used as a field site for horticultural teaching and learning purposes.
• Hosted, in conjunction with the Alice Springs Desert Park, three community members from Koonibba and Iga Warta. Peter Grey and Ashley Peel (Koonibba) and Andrew Wilton (Iga Warta) learnt about commercial nursery operations.