Key Facts:
- A new North Australian Hub for Native Bushfoods and Botanicals hopes to be established at Charles Darwin University's Katherine Rural Campus, backed by $2.5 million in funding.
- The project aims to protect First Nations knowledge and intellectual property rights whilst exploring agricultural practices for native plants.
- The precinct vision hopes to include indoor and outdoor teaching spaces, native landscaping, botanical plantings, and trial growing plots.
- The initiative will be jointly led by CDU and First Nations partner organisations, with community and industry consultations to guide design works.
- The project will build upon CDU's existing programmes supporting Traditional Owners in documenting native plant usage and traditional growing techniques.
A project in Katherine with a vision to create a North Australian Hub for Native Bushfoods and Botanicals will be a taking a closer look at how to better support, recognise and protect First Nations knowledge and intellectual property.
The Bushfoods, Botanicals & Community Precinct at the Charles Darwin University (CDU) Katherine Rural Campus (KRC) will not only explore and test agricultural practices for native plants and create a safe space for training programs in the field, but it will ensure traditional knowledge will be preserved and recognised to protect intellectual property rights of First Nations people.
CDU Associate Vice-Chancellor Big Rivers Region Alison Brook said the initial concept for the Precinct hoped to lead the way in capacity building in the native plants industries.
"The focus of the partnership group will be too deeply engaged and consult with community and First Nations groups to deliver a precinct plan that supports industry, community and regional needs and aspirations" Mrs Brook said.
The project will explore leveraging current infrastructure and facilities at KRC as well as purpose built indoor and outdoor teaching spaces, native landscaping and botanical plantings around teaching areas, trial growing plots and more.
CDU Deputy Vice-Chancellor Research and Community Connections Professor Steve Rogers said CDU KRC was well placed for this project given its background in agriculture and current expansion agri-business research.
