Well, it’s been a heady week of third quarter earnings reports, stepping up as the frisson of supermarket scolding ebbs. For now.
But to remove any doubt our two supermarket juggernauts are introverts at heart, their esteemed leaders were once again pushed to the podium to reflect on the fiscal performance (as opposed to reputation) of the last 13 weeks.
Because I have a puerile sense of humour, I’m envisaging Coles CEO Leah Weckert – who since taking the helm has shown the steely determination and formidable presence of Margaret Thatcher with the affable nature of Jacinda Ardern – calling Woolworths CEO Brad Banducci – the embodiment of resignation, in that he’s about to, but also that after 13 years with the company and eight and a half in the hot seat, the main thing he’ll be remembered for is an on-camera cranky storm-off after accidentally saying what he was thinking out loud – shouting, “We win! Boo-yah! Mic drop,” and then hanging up before weary Brad knows what’s what.
Reconstructing future Australia
In the latest case study of how to roll-out of a government program at a glacial pace, federal industry minister Ed Husic announced that the application process for Industry Growth Program (IGP) grants is officially open. This is different from the “open for business” announcement in November, in that there is now an actual application process.
Since the IGP was announced in last year’s budget (keep in mind this year’s budget is 11 days away. I believe this is called just getting in “just in the nick of time”) there has been a discussion paper, the appointment of Industry Growth Advisers (largely the same group of people in the equivalent role under the Coalition’s Entrepreneur’s Program), and the launch and awarding of IGP-adjacent Industry Partner Organisation (IPO) grants. Insert Shrek “ogres are like onions” reference here.
Bush food benefits
It turns out, native bush foods are highly nutritious and have some pretty remarkable capabilities. Sometimes I try to imagine just how different being an Australian could have been if there had been even a vague attempt to understand, respect, and adopt the complex, sophisticated, intelligent, wondrous culture of the First Nations people. It physically hurts that we didn’t – and largely still don’t.
The University of Queensland has released two studies – one on the nutritional make-up of the bunya nut, and the other on the Kakadu plum’s capabilities as a meat preservative.
There is an opportunity for the food and beverage sector to do the right thing when it comes to Indigenous ingredients, their use and commercialisation.
In 2020, it seemed state governments were starting to work it out. In WA an Indigenous investor program was launched and the Victorian government formed a partnership with the Federation of Victorian Traditional Owner Corporations to work with Aboriginal Victorian-owned native food businesses. In South Australia, the Orana Foundation and University of Adelaide established the Indigenous Food Database.
Victoria seems to be taking the lead in this area, with bushfood scholarships for First Nations Women another program it is running. Victoria seems to be taking the lead in this area, with bushfood scholarships for First Nations Women another program it is running. In 2021, the state’s Traditional Owners released a strategy to restore their leadership of the state’s native foods and botanicals industry, which was backed by the state government.
In January, the RMIT Blockchain Innovation Hub hosted 70 native businesses at the inaugural First Nations Native Food Blockchain Workshop, looking at how the technology could support the sector and uphold Indigenous cultural intellectual property rights for Victorian Traditional Owners. That issue, right there, is critical to the food and beverage sector setting a new standard in regards to the commercialisation of Indigenous ingredients and products.
Queensland launched its Indigenous Native Food Program (INFP) in July last year.
More recently, the National Farmers’ Federation announced a series of roundtables in April-May to confirm support for the broad characteristics and principles that must be used in defining Indigenous agricultural products – part of the Indigenous Agricultural Product Framework Project.
There are many successful Indigenous brands starting to appear, but there is much more that can be – and needs to be – done. Let’s not let that pace be as glacial as others.
