Australian Native Fruits and their Products and Preservation

Australia is home to thousands of species of unique plant life, many of which have long been appreciated by First Nations Australians and used for food, fibre, and medicine. Having evolved in Australia, they are inherently well-adapted to its droughts, floods, and specific climate and soil. As climate change threatens the ability to grow the crops currently grown at large scale in Australia, native crops may provide an essential tool for ensuring food security and a more sustainable source of nutrients for ever-larger populations. This project is determining the mechanisms of preservation of Australian native fruits and providing industry with the data needed to upscale the processing of these fruits in a way that optimises shelf-life and quality/nutrient retention.