Commercialising bushfoods for the future

In November, 10 inspiring First Nations bushfood entrepreneurs from across Australia were welcomed to Brisbane to launch their 14-week journey.

Facilitated by Sacred Country Consulting and First Nations Start-Up, the program aims to inspire and support First Nations entrepreneurs working on business ideas in native food, botanicals and agriculture.

A highlight of the week was a tour of Professor Yasmina Sultanbawa’s lab at the UQ Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation. Participants toured state-of-the-art testing labs, met the research team and gained invaluable insights into Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) standards and safety protocols—crucial knowledge for developing bushfood products commercially.

An especially memorable moment came when Native Grow participant and UQ PhD candidate Sherie Bruce presented her research being undertaken in the lab. This was one of the first opportunities for Sherie to share her work with a group of First Nations people within this space, making it a deeply profound experience for all involved.

The group also engaged in meaningful discussions with FaBA Director Dr Chris Downs on how budding entrepreneurs can be supported to build and scale sustainable bushfood businesses. His guidance provided valuable direction and reinforced the importance of collaboration in this space.

This program represents an exciting step forward for sustainable, First Nations-led bushfood businesses. We can’t wait to see the growth and impact these entrepreneurs will achieve!