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Trees, shrubs, grasses and even small herbs produce seed. Seeds are designed to have carbohydrate, protein and enzymes for young plants and are excellent food sources for humans and animals. Indigenous people formed connections with the plants around them over thousands of years and selected the seeds which made the best foods. Different groups living in different climates connected with different plants, and these connections are woven with the culture, lore and society of each group. These connections remain in many places.

Key messages
— Native grain species have deep cultural and ecological connections, linking people to their past, future, and environment.
— Native grains are safe to eat, nutritious and relatively easy to harvest and store.
— Integrating native grains into modern agriculture is difficult due to the high cost relative to grain yield.
— Australia has a wide variety of native grain species, each with unique characteristics and nutritional benefits.
— There is a native grain for every climatic zone on the continent.