Fact sheet: Native grain species
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...
Fact sheet: What makes an Australian grass seed a viable grain for an Indigenous-led native grains food industry?
4 pages
Published: 4 Feb 2025
Author(s): The University of Sydney Native Grains Research Group
Share this content
-
Download report PDF
Download
Australia has an incredible range of native grasses, which have evolved over millions of years to survive and flourish in environments from tropical pastures to deserts. Indigenous Australians have managed, harvested, and processed seeds from many of these grasses for food for millennia; however, only some of these species have potential in an Indigenous-led native grains industry.
Key messages
— Australian native grasses have characteristics that make them suitable for an Indigenous-led native grains food industry, focusing on grain yield, ease of harvesting, and nutritional quality.
— Understanding the anatomy and structure of grass inflorescences, including spikelets and caryopses, is crucial for efficient harvesting, storage, processing and nutritional quality.
— The grains’ nutritional profile, including proteins, carbohydrates, and lipids, along with commercial factors like grain size, colour and storage requirements, are essential for their use in the food industry.
Related resources
Modernising Indigenous Native Grains Processing
For millennia, native grains have sustained First Nations peoples across Australia, intertwining with the intricate fabric of their cultures, landscapes, and food systems. These grains,...
Modernising Indigenous Native Grains Processing: Economic Analysis of Technologies and Processes
This Native Grains Economic Analysis is a significant contribution to the revitalisation of native grain processing in Australia. Indigenous people have been processing grains from...
Fact sheet: What makes an Australian grass seed a viable grain for an Indigenous-led native grains food industry?
Australia has an incredible range of native grasses, which have evolved over millions of years to survive and flourish in environments from tropical pastures to...
Proceedings of the 4th Australian Industrial Hemp Conference
The 4th Australian Industrial Hemp Conference brought together growers, experts, researchers and industry leaders to discuss advancements in industrial hemp cultivation, processing and utilisation. Ten...
Isolation and characterisation of crocodile collagen peptides from farmed Australian saltwater crocodiles (Crocodylus porosus)
The Australian saltwater crocodile, Crocodylus porosus, industry is a valuable contributor to the global market for crocodile skins, with most exports going to France, Singapore,...
Improving truffle orchard floor management
Expanding production has positioned Australia as the world’s fourth-largest truffle producer, after France, Italy and Spain. In 2022, favourable growing conditions meant the country produced...
Fact sheet: Identifying new revenue opportunities for the hazelnut industry
The primary objective of the Identifying revenue opportunities for AgriFutures Australia’s rural industries project was to identify potential new and alternate revenue sources within 28...