National body for the native food industry

Australia's growing native food industry participants have joined forces to form a national body to represent industry participants and to meet the challenges of developing strong markets both locally and internationally.

On Friday 15 December 2006, Australian Native Food Industries Limited (ANFIL) was incorporated as a National Body to represent participants in the industry.

"Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation (RIRDC) research for the native foods industry has found that several steps are needed for the industry to grow to its potential, and become a sustainable, profitable industry," Dr Roslyn Prinsley, RIRDC general manager for new industries, said.

"The native foods industry needs to become market driven, not production driven, and must develop products to meet market needs. The industry needs to take up food safety and quality standards and increase cooperation, communication and knowledge sharing between all levels of the industry. Clear and consistent marketing messages need to be developed and implemented across the industry, with generic marketing initiatives to benefit the entire industry.

"The establishment of a strong national body will enable the native foods industry to work together towards these goals."

RIRDC is currently working with members of ANFIL, the newly incorporated body, to prepare the industry for national and global challenges.

One project aims to establish a consistent policy for naming native food products, and to register a number of products with Food Standards Australia and New Zealand (FSANZ) and the Codex Alimentarius.

The researchers are documenting the historic and current use of several commercially traded native food products, and collating the available scientific, toxicity and nutritional data. These products include lemon myrtle " which has now been listed by FSANZ as a traditional food as a result of this work " as well as wattle seed, native pepper, bush tomato, Kakadu plum, Davidson plum, and riberry.

Having products recognised as traditional, as opposed to "novel', foods gives them greater access to local commercial markets, and potentially international markets too.

"As well as making good progress in developing strong domestic and export markets, the native food industry offers opportunities for farm diversification and for the development of sustainable and environmentally appropriate agriculture," Prinsley said.