Bush Botanics Australia, Ltd. is an elders-led social enterprise, supporting remote indigenous communities in ecological restoration projects, economic development, on-going horticultural training and bringing new bush food and medicinal plant crops to market. Our team is on a mission to discover, explore, preserve and showcase the rich biodiversity of Australia's native plants. We are dedicated to uncovering innovative commercial uses for native plant species while protecting their cultural significance, restoring ecological balance, and creating economic opportunities within communities.
Our goal is to eliminate poverty in remote indigenous communities by preserving traditional knowledge and cultural practices through increasing indigenous participation in the native foods and nature restoration industry. Through education and engagement we provide access to agricultural expertise, tools, training, funding and markets that empower individuals and communities to improve food security and economic opportunity.
We have a dedicated team of experienced horticulturists, agriculturalists, botanists and land managers who have developed and commercialized over 20 native food products and supply chain linkages across Australia.
Our teams work in agricultural and aboriginal tourism projects across WA, SA, NT and FNQ.
Native Food Innovations
Native foods are a growing trend in the food and beverage industry. We source, develop and market native ingredients for use in food products, supplements and personal care items.
Our new products include quandong, bush tomato, native lemongrasss, Northern Wild Orange, Apple Bush, bush mint tea, Saltbush and a wide variety of bush herbs.
Plant Medicines
Our native foods and native botanicals are sustainably sourced in alignment with Traditional cultural practices, and are of the highest quality. We have an extensive range of native plant based ingredients that can be incorporated into your product development.
All our products have been developed in consultation with local Indigenous communities.
Product Development
Bush Botanics works with remote communities across WA, SA, the NT and QLD to develop capacity within the bush foods and botanicals sector. We support these communities in land management, education & training, variety selection, infrastructure support, consulting, value-add, labelling and an online marketplace for marketing and selling indigenous bush food and botanicals products, services and tourism experiences.
The Oldest Foods in the World...
Bush Botanics Australia, Ltd. is an agricultural incubator with a focus on growing and sourcing indigenous bush foods, medicinal plants and essential oils.
We can support your remote bush food enterprise with:
• Business plans • Consultation and individual, item or species-specific enquiries • Crop and species advice • Feasibility studies • Mentorship • Project management • Research studies and market/industry information • Support services for specific projects • Seed Bank Development • Geo-Mapping • Product development • Packaging and Design • Video production • Website, Marketing and ADM's • Land Use Agreements • Bio-Diversity Registration • Festivals and Events • Grant Funding & Management • Remote agricultural and harvesting support •
Sustainability : The collection of our native ingredients is done sustainably, ensuring the future of our unique Australian food sources for generations to come.
New opportunities : We provide pathways for education, training, employment and financial independence to Indigenous Australians. Bush Botanicals supports projects in bushcraft, bush tucker, bush medicines, bush food workshops & events and indigenous cultural tourism.
Promoting authenticity : Bush Botanics Australia works to promote traditional cultural knowledge and preserve authenticity of ingredients and Indigenous cultural practices
Mobile Agricultural Processing Unit (MAPU)
Bringing the power of mobile agricultural processing units into remote communities.
Our Mobile Agricultural Processing Unit (MAPU) provides year-round support for site-prep, seedlings, planting, irrigation, harvesting and food processing for remote populations.
Our Mobile Agricultural Processing Units (MAPU) are self-sufficient and fully automated. Each unit has tools and equipment, a composting unit and produces its own electricity from solar panels on the roof.
We partner with land owners, indigenous communities and other businesses to generate and supply high quality, sustainable bush food products.
We offer ongoing R&D in plant selection, sustainable production systems and post-harvest systems.
Indigenous Seed Production for Ecological Restoration
Did you know that nearly all of Australia's native seed supply is harvested from the wild? This practice, while traditional, is becoming increasingly unsustainable. The establishment of an Indigenous-owned and operated native seed farm is a groundbreaking initiative that merges traditional knowledge with modern ecological science. Let's explore how this collaboration works and why it's vital for the future of land rehabilitation.
At Bush Botanics, we believe that seeds are more than just a commodity. They're a symbol of our First Nations' cultural heritage, and a reminder of the amazing things that can be grown from something so small.
That's why we're passionate about empowering Indigenous communities through restoration seed production. We offer growers a unique opportunity to not only preserve their culture but also make an income off a small plot of land.
With the demand for native seeds far outstripping supply, it's never been easier to make a profit from seed farming. Join us on our mission to restore the natural environment while also creating sustainable economic opportunities in Indigenous communities. Together, let's create something extraordinary from the smallest of beginnings!
At Bush Botanics, we understand the importance of protecting and preserving living links to our past. We are committed to keeping the ancient traditions of seed saving, Indigenous agriculture, and storytelling alive. Our mission is to provide access to a wide variety of native seeds and plants so that they may be shared with future generations.
Working with remote communities, we seek to create sustainable ecosystems and economic opportunities that will restore balance to our planet for years to come. By connecting people with nature, we aim to foster an appreciation for the beauty and wonder of the natural world.
Join us in creating a more vibrant and resilient future – one where our stories can live on through the ages.
INNOVATING THE RESTORATION ECONOMY
Seed Restoration Partnership
Bush Botanics is working with remote communities to collect native seed for research, development, germplasm conservation, and ecosystem restoration. By involving community members across Indigenous lands, we are building up seed supply while co-creating working partnerships with remote communities.
We offer private industry seed production enabling you to scale your restoration activities. Our goal is to to increase the quality and quantity of native plant materials available for restoring and supporting resilient ecosystems.
Our quality assessment is compliant with international principles and standards for native seed in ecological restoration. We base our harvesting and production across a wide variety of methods, locations, timing, techniques and agronomics.
Remote Essential Oil
Distillation
Bush Botanics provides on-location distillation and processing of bush medicines for essential oils.
These oils are available to local communities for the creation of a wide variety of health & wellness products.
Essential oils are ideal products for remote communities and small-scale farmers, provided that they receive the correct technical and marketing training.
Bush Botanics aims to accelerate the creation and development of emerging essential oil enterprises; facilitate and promote aboriginal employment opportunities and integrate business, manufacturing and marketing through hands-on training and development with Indigenous entrepreneurs.
Our Process
- Evaluations of potential emerging
farms and assess viability of
essential oil production.
- Recommendations of essential oil
crops to be planted.
- Assessment of agricultural
infrastructure required before
essential oil production can be
considered.
- Continual, on-farm agronomic
training of incubates from
experienced horticultural field
officers.
- On site training in the process of
essential oil extraction by steam
distillation.
- Assistance with developing
business plans for communities
and their stake holders or
financiers.
- Assistance in obtaining financial
support from the public and
private sectors both locally and
internationally
- Comprehensive assistance with
initial land preparation and
plantings.
- Access to cost-effective mobile
steam distillation equipment for
smaller scale farmers.
- Access to reliable and competitive
international markets via long
term supply contracts.
- Chemical and sensory analyses of
essential oils in orders to
determine quality and
marketability.
- Design & implementations of the
appropriate governance, legal and
management structures for the
business being incubated.
- Community development
interventions within the incubated
business and the broader
community in which it operates.
- Business skills training;
- Liaison with other appropriate
Government Departments e.g.
Agriculture and Land Councils.
traditional
cultural practices
New crops for food and botanicals
Regenerative land
management
Geographic
Indicators
EMPLOYMENT IN
REMOTE COMMUNITIES
An innovative approach to the Australian bush foods business
Australia's bush food industry is booming, with traditional varieties in high demand, yet there is still less than 1 per cent indigenous representation in the supply chain. Bush Botanics is an initiative that engages more indigenous people in small-scale bush food enterprises in remote communities across Australia.
Our aim is to cultivate, process and distribute high-quality, authentic native food products from Australia's natural environment. We partner with Indigenous communities to help sustainably manage their land and develop small-scale enterprises that provide opportunities for employment and community development into the future.
Bush Food Innovation Hub
• Bush Botanics knowledge library : Learn about the uses, benefits and preparation of native Australian botanicals and bush foods.
• Bush tucker plant nursery : An extensive collection of native plants and seeds.
• Bush food & plant medicine making workshops : Develop your product with trusted, hygienically-processed food and medicinal plant products from our commercial kitchen.
Mobile Processing Facilities
Our Mobile Agricultural Processing Unit (MAPU) provides year-round support for site-prep, seedlings, planting, irrigation, harvesting and food processing for remote populations.
Market-Making
Connecting the wild harvesters with the end user, our smartphone app provides a storefront and back-office services for small-scale bush food enterprises on-country.
Join us on-country in one of our upcoming seed gathering trips
or educational classes...
Upcoming Courses
Unlocking the Potential of Wattle Seeds: From Conservation to Commercial Production
This program will help support your community in growing wattle trees for seed and environmental services in remote community. Learn about the process of domesticating wild wattle populations to make them more stable, easier to handle, and more valuable for establishing successful wattle seed orchards. Discover the process of establishing wattle seed orchards and the potential for significant seed production as an ongoing revenue generator for your community. This program is designed to help you increase wattle seed production while restoring degraded lands and providing valuable ecological restoration.
Community Seed Banking: Infrastructural Considerations and Collection Management
Discover the essential aspects of managing a community seed bank, including the infrastructure considerations, seed preservation processes, data management, and the significance of community engagement. We'll take you on a journey through the world of seed banking and show the critical role of seed banks in safeguarding Aboriginal biodiversity and ensuring the future of our planet. Includes bio-registry forms and handbook.
6 weeks - Online Course
Starts April 2024
Working with Ancient Grains
Across the country there is massive demand for native grains like Kangaroo grass and native millet. These traditional varieties provide a great opportunity for indigenous communities to engage with the bush food industry.
This 4 hour class will help you to identify the grains in your region, and link these varieties to specific language groups, and in some instances, to specific bread makers.
At Bush Botanics, we believe that the best medicines are found in nature. We work with indigenous communities to support ecological restoration projects using native trees, medicinal plants and bush foods. Our unique approach combines research, education and economic development t to create positive change from the ground up.
We honor the rich history and knowledge of Indigenous Australians in relation to their land, resources, and traditional practices. Indigenous Australians have lived sustainably for thousands of years, drawing on the vast array of native plant species for nutrition, therapeutic uses, and agricultural products.
The management and rights to agricultural production are determined by Indigenous laws, customs, and lore, with specific responsibilities assigned to individuals within their societies. Indigenous women often hold authority over the practices of propagation, harvest, and use of traditional foodstuffs and agricultural products.
Bush Botanics recognizes and upholds the rightful place of Indigenous women in decision-making processes related to Indigenous botanicals.
Made by hand, on the land....
Bush Botanics Australia, Ltd. supports native Australian bush regeneration, sustainable harvesting and the protection of endangered species
Indigenous Australians have been the first land managers, farmers, and manufacturers in Australia, their knowledge and practices continue to be vital for the sustainable use and care of the country’s resources.
We acknowledges the Australian Indigenous and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the first inhabitants of this nation and the traditional custodians of the lands where we live, learn and work.
Always was, always will be…
© Copyright 2024. Bush Botanics Australia, Ltd.
All Rights Reserved
Bush Botanics are active members of
the Society for Ecological Restoration
contact us at 04 1179 8772