WILD native Australian rice is being propagated in the north in what is tipped to become a booming agribusiness to fill a niche food market.
Two significant projects to identify the potential of establishing a wild rice industry are under way after receiving Federal Government funding.
Charles Darwin University (CDU) has received $1.8 million to develop a commercially viable native rice as an agribusiness in Northern Territory wetlands.
It comes after $505,000 was announced for a cooperative of researchers from across Queensland, the Northern Territory and Western Australia to investigate the potential of northern Australian rice.
CRCNA Chair Sheriden Morris said that project was the first of its kind in Australia and there was the potential to produce more than one million tonnes of rice annually.
"This project will take a broad look at the whole northern Australian rice supply chain and really zero in on what the opportunities for development are," Ms Morris said.
CDU Research Institute for the Environments and Livelihoods' Dr Sean Bellairs, who is leading the NT project said native rice had environmental value, and work to protect the species had presented the opportunity to establish a consumption based agribusiness.
Dr Bellairs said growers had tried to establish a commercial rice crop at Fogg Dam in the 1950s, but the variety being used failed.
However, a healthy and viable wild rice variety is growing in the area which Dr Bellairs and his team plan to further propagate.
"The resistance of Australian native rices makes it very attractive," Dr Bellairs said.
"Now that we have the support, we could potentially put Darwin on the map as a major producer of a range of native rice."
Dr Bellairs said the product would suit a niche market.
"We are not looking at large scale general commercial rice, we are aiming for that high value, gourmet food that is of cultural significance, particularly sold to tourists going through the area and also nationally and internationally.
"We are aiming for the high value end of the market, selling 100g bags in the supermarket rather than 2kg bags."
Dr Bellairs said native rice had slightly higher protein than other rices tested, and the CDU cookery school had also carried out food trials. "It has more of a smokey, nutty flavour."
Dr Bellairs said it would be some time before rice appeared on the shelves, with the first trial crop expected to be harvested next April.
