New research by the Australian Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation suggests the partnership could signal a growing interest in indigenous foods.
The report found that 27 native foods—such as crocodiles, emus, kangaroos, possums, essential oils, nuts, wild herbs, and native fruits and vegetables—add half a billion dollars (U.S.) to the economy each year.
The market share is still small. Indigenous foods claim just 2.2 percent of Australia's total farm production. And only game birds, kangaroos, macadamia nuts, Asian vegetables, tropical fruits, and olives gross more than 23 million dollars (U.S.) a year as individual commodities.
But the study suggests that native foods could have added social and environmental benefits. Harvesting wild game like feral pigs and camels, for example, could reduce environmental damage caused by the nonnative species, the authors write.
Market Share
Robins says that as more people acquire a taste for bush foods—such as peach-like quandongs, pear-shaped riberries, wild limes, and mountain pepper—more indigenous communities will be able to establish businesses that allow them to remain on their ancestral lands.
"In 30 years' time we want to make sure that Aboriginal people have a real role in the industry," Robins said.
To help guarantee a steady supply chain for indigenous food products, Robins Foods' created Indigenous Australian Foods, a nonprofit company made up of Aboriginal members.
The nonprofit sells products from eight Aboriginal companies representing 300 communities, many of them located more a hundred miles from any town. (See Australia map.)
"If [Aboriginal communities] aren't linked into a market, they haven't got a hope," Robins said.
"Even though it's culturally and intellectually their knowledge, it wouldn't take long for [their market share] to be taken away. Twenty years down the track, it's too late for them to come back in."
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