Native rice trials begin

Above: Senior Research Agronomist, Tony Asis from DITT and Dr Sean Bellairs, leader of the native rice project, from CDU, with plants at a vegetative stage.

A 10-year collaborative research project seeking to commercialise native rice in Northern Australia, and support Aboriginal enterprise, has commenced growing trials.

Three species of native rice will be grown at the Department of Industry, Tourism and Trade’s (DITT)  Coastal Plains Research Farm and in shadehouses at Charles Darwin University’s Casuarina campus. These species are being explored for growth, yield and grain quality. The project aims to see native rice produced as a high value, culturally identified Australian grain giving economic benefit to Aboriginal communities and enterprises.

Researchers from DITTs Agriculture Division will provide expertise in rice agronomy and the use of DITTs propagation facilities. Once preliminary trials are completed, the research team will scale up to trial commercial quantities.

Contact

Tony Asis
constancio.asis@nt.gov.au

Visit the department’s website