Saline Bush Foods Innovation

Media Information Pack

New Food from Degraded Land

With a growing population, and more than a million hectares of land affected by salinity, Western Australia needs to find ways to increase agricultural production in degraded soils whilst improving environmental condition.

In Katanning, a project is underway which might just achieve this.

Funded by the NLP Smart Farming Partnerships program 2018-2022, development of a Paddock to Plate supply chain of Saline Bush Foods is cranking along.

The project is taking native plants that already grow in saline soils and working out how they can be grown consistently and in sufficient volumes, to create a reliable and desirable food supply. Three growth systems – wild harvest, planted in-field

and shadehouse – are being trialled.

These activities are supported by range of enabling projects including produce promotion, Horticulture training to build a skilled workforce, Aboriginal cultural training and construction of a local packing shed.

The saline plants – samphire, karkalla, saltbush and ice-plant - are already enjoying market success, finding their way onto plates in some of Australia’s top restaurants, taking out food awards and winning the hearts of chefs and diners. Plans are

underway – spurred on by the impacts of COVID19 on the restaurant industry - to expand into the retail market with a range of dried products.

Scientists are examining whether bush food production activities on degraded lands is contributing to improving soil health, the drawdown of water tables, and reduction of localised salinity.

The project’s long-term aim is to encourage farmers across southern Australia with saline lands to enter into this supply chain, diversifying farm income, improving the environment and increasing agricultural production. A production manual and

intense training course will be delivered in 2022 to gateway new growers into the market.

Project Lead – Katanning Landcare

Founded in 1990, Katanning Landcare is a locally-driven, not-for-profit WestAustralian community group that strives to restore and enhance the localenvironment.

Focussing on four key areas – Healthy Farms, Biodiversity, Water and SustainableLiving – Katanning Landcare has become an integral part of the local communityand landscape.

State and National Award winners, Katanning Landcare’s achievements includeplanting over 4.2 million trees, erecting nearly 2000km of fencing and successfullydelivering more than $12.5 million of public funds over 220 separate environmentalprojects.

Saline Foods Project Overview

Growing

Marketing

Packing

Harvesting

Training

Research

Growing samphire, saltbush, ice-plant and karkalla (pig-face) for the gourmet market.

Pioneering three growing methods – wild harvest,

plantation and shadehouseirrigated with saline

groundwater.

Developing harvest regimes that ensure fresh, consistent and attractive produce.

Invention of two mechanised

saltbush harvesting machines.

Creation of a Packing Shed enterprise, to process fresh produce from local growers, opening May 2021.

Introducing chefs, restauranteurs and consumers to the produce through expos, awards and meals.

Supplying across Australia currently,

eventually internationally.

Scientific monitoring of soils, plants and water responses to this farming.

Restoring degraded land through activating

ecological processes and creating commercial

value.

Ensuring quality produce and

creating local jobs.

Horticulture Cert 2 & 3; and Aboriginal Cultural training. Creating a skilled workforce to deliver this industry.

Intensive training for farmers wishing to

become saline food growers, March 2022.

The Characters Behind Saline Bush Foods

David ThompsonA farmer passionate aboutgood food, social equity andgood land stewardship, David isa powerhouse behind thisproject. Pioneering the supplyof bush foods to market fromhis own property, he is hostingall the production trial sites andis constantly challenging thegroup with “I’ve had an idea…”.

Lance McLeodLance is a man who lovesintroducing unique foods tonew customers. A gourmet foodmarketer, he has his finger onthe pulse of the latest trendsand the who’s who of the game– here in WA, across Australiaand overseas. His calm voicehides his excitement at pushingboundaries - often starting with“What we will do next is…”

Ella Maesepp As a trained environmentalscientist, Landcare Officer Ellaplays a key role in bringingdiverse people together to seekproductive solutions to oursalinity crisis. She has key projectmanagement responsibility, andhas the tough task of keeping somany passionate people on track.“Slow down, let’s get this nailedbefore we jump to that one!”

Dustin McCreeryWe think there might actually bemore than one Dustin (secretclones perhaps?), as we have noidea how one man can possibly bein so many places and know somany people. A mechanic turnednurseryman turned fabricatingengineer, he is passionate aboutlandscape rehabilitation, carbonand good farming sense. Ourdevils advocate, Dustin’s the onesaying “Let’s look at it from adifferent perspective…”

Tony MerceicaLifelong horticulturalist Tonybrings incredible know-how to thecontrolled growing operations ofthis project. His successful careerin the cut flower industry hasgiven him in-depth knowledgethat he is thoroughly enjoyingapplying to the uncharteredwaters of producing these bushfoods. Tony wouldn’t be Tony if hewasn’t saying “Have you thoughtabout this…?”.

Matt Collis The newest, and perhapsquietest, member of the teamMatt is a powerhouse behindthe development of social andenvironmental enterprise inKatanning. His practicalattitude is all about making ithappen, crossing each bridgeas it comes. Matt summed upin one line is “Yes, we can dothat.”

It’s Been a Busy Few Years…

January 2017 Katanning farmer David Thompson discovers that a Perth

restaurant he supplies mutton to is importing saltbush from

South Australia. He sends some from his own WA farm to

Perth with the next mutton order.

February

2017

David Thompson meets Lance McLeod, a gourmet food

marketer with WAGOGA, who assists in getting these

products to a wider audience. Demand grows.

July 2017 Seeing the potential for a new industry and benefits to the

rural landscape, David starts to ask questions as to how this

new plant food could potentially help farmers to address

salinity, improve soil health and provide employment in

country towns.

September

2017

A chance conversation links Katanning Landcare, who work

with farmers on issues including salinity and sustainable

agriculture, with David’s work. David, Lance and Landcare

begin to develop a project together to develop the saline bush

foods concept.

October 2017 Identifying the need for more expertise, rural engineers

Chatfields and wheatbelt horticulturalists Wide Open

Agriculture are brought into the project design.

November

2017

The group applies for funding through the Australian

Governments NLP Smart Farming Partnerships Program, to

explore the production of saline foods utilising degraded land

and water, improving environmental condition, economic

opportunities and contributing to food security.

May 2018 “Baby Pigface” (red karkalla) wins the WA State and

National Delicious Produce Awards

June 2018 $758,616 awarded as a grant to Katanning Landcare from

the National Landcare Program.

August 2018 First plantation of 10,000 saltbush established for the

human food market

February

2019

Research into the horticultural requirements of the plants

underway at Chatfields Tree Nursery in Tammin. First ever

recorded success in inducing flowering in ice-plant.

March 2019 Environmental research team lead by Dr Bede Mickan and

Dr Jolene Otway commence monitoring at the plantation

and wild harvest sites.

April 2019 Prototype saltbush former machine, to shape saltbush for

easy and consistent harvest, begins construction in Tammin.

May 2019 First shadehouse constructed.

October

2019

Site investigations undertaken to determine the best place

to establish a shadehouse facility, and to determine drilling

sites to find saline groundwater to use in the shadehouse

24 December

2019 (yes,

Christmas Eve!)

First groundwater drilling attempt failed to find water.

January 2020 Tony Merceica from Swan Valley Flower Farm joins the team,

transitioning the horticultural role from WoA.

February 2020 Second groundwater drilling attempt successful. Two bores

established, but water not as salty as first hoped! Solar power supply

installed for shadehouses.

March 2020 Work on a harvester machine for saltbush underway, taking inspiration

from the tea and carrot harvesting industries.

March – May

2020

COVID-19 hits. Restaurant demand plummets. WAGOGA food

marketers suspend operations. Project team members isolated from

the project site while regional borders are closed.

May 2020 Saline Selection tray of produce wins the WA Delicious Gold award.

June 2020 Ice-plant begins to be successfully grown in a horticultural environment

July 2020 First intake of TAFE students, studying Certificate 2 Horticulture,

specialising in bush foods.

July 2020 Land secured to build the Packing Shed on, in Katannings light

industrial area.

August 2020 Second plantation of saltbush and first plantation of samphire

established.

August 2020 First Aboriginal Cultural Training day held for Project Team members

and TAFE students, led by local Aboriginal guides Wuddi Aboriginal

Tours.

October 2020 Successful spring field day held at the Project Site, showcasing the

Project and objectives to the public for the first time. First public

demonstration of the new saltbush former and harvester machines.

November 2020 Katanning Environmental Inc joins the team, to develop and run a locally

based packing shed to manage fresh harvest of saline foods from local

farms.February 2021 Second intake of TAFE students, this time studying Certificate 3 in

Horticulture, specialising in bush foods.

March 2021 Second shadehouse construction completed and commences producing

food for market.

April 2021 As COVID-19 restrictions settle, market demand for the saltland produce

returns stronger than ever – showing a 410% increase in sales

between the first quarters of 2019 and 2021.

April 2021 Our Ice-plant and Seakiss Saltbush take out WA Delicious Awards.

May 2021 Construction on the Packing Shed commences.

We’d Love To Talk To You

Welcome to Katanning!

The project field site is located approximately 25minutes drive east of Katanning, with the PackingShed and Landcare Centre in town.

Katanning is a major regional town located 270kmsouth east of Perth, in Western Australia. It can beaccessed by car or Transwa bus, and there is anairstrip (charter or private planes only). Katanningboasts all major facilities including 2supermarkets, hospital, 3 primary schools, a highschool and TAFE, cafes, restaurants, art galleryand specialty stores. Katanning is famous for theRegional Sheep Saleyards – the largestundercover sheep selling complex in the southernhemisphere – and the All Ages Playground, an“adult sized” playground that has recentlyundergone a $5 million facelift.

A range of accommodation is available.

Contact:• Ella Maesepp (08) 9821 4327, email

ella@katanninglandcare.org.au• Website www.katanninglandcare.org.au

Social Media: Katanning Landcare • facebook.com/landcare.katanning• Twitter: @landcarekat

Moojepin Foods• facebook.com/MoojepinFoods/ • Instagram.com/moojepin_foods/

Interviews, filming, photography, high resolution images and logos available on request.