To stimulate interest in bush tomato growing, Plant Business has initiated several bush tomato plantings in central Australia, serving a number of different objectives. None of the selected varieties above have been planted because they are subject to intellectual property protection arrangements; however, seedling plants (i.e. non-clonal offspring) of three of the selections have been provided back to the Aboriginal community that provided the original parents.

A bush tomato garden plot has been planted at Ntaria (Hermannsburg) in partnership with the Tjuwanpa Outstation Resource Centre Aboriginal Corporation and CSIRO. After initial problems, due mainly to inadequate soil preparation (cause by machinery breakdown), the plot was prepared better for a second planting in April 2016 that initially grew well but was adversely affected by the protracted torrential rain in January 2017. Seedlings of two accessions were provided for this plot in 2016, and recently further plants of a third accession were delivered for additional plantings – the original parents of each accession were collected by Tjuwanpa women, so fruit produced will be of genuine Arrernte Country origin. Management of this plot has now been handed over completely to the Tjuwanpa women.

Additional plants have also been provided for plantings elsewhere in Ntaria, including for some enrichment sites (i.e. plants put back into the bush).

Left: Ntaria plot after the 2016 winter
Right: In March 2017, recovering after prolonged summer rain

Seedling plants of two accessions from Crown Land provenance that were planted at Desert Garden Produce Aboriginal Corporation (DGP – Max and Ruth Emery’s farm near Rainbow Valley) had suffered from adverse conditions, including an unusual insect pest attack. The plot has survived, however, and is recovering to be useful for ongoing observation.

Furthermore, clonal plants of a tissue-cultured line (commercial source) have been established at DGP; concurrently at an intensive farm plot at Ilparpa Road, Alice Springs; and recently on a conventional horticultural farm plot at Undoolya. This will provide useful information about the growth and production responses of genetically identical bush tomato plants grown under quite different horticultural situations. Future information from this comparison will be helpful in better understanding the plant and for designing growing situations that may help farmers to optimise performance within the constraints of different farm environments.

Ilparpa Road intensive plot

Left: June 2016 just after planting.                                
Right: March 2017

Late in 2016, a new bush tomato plot of seedlings from numerous accessions (all from Crown Land provenance) was planted at Rocky Hill farm, Undoolya. This is the largest Plant Business pilot planting to date, comprising almost 1,700 plants. This plot is already producing an impressive crop.


Left: Rocky Hill farm large plot December 2016 soon after planting 
Right: March 2017

Interest in growing bush tomatoes horticulturally extends beyond central Australia. For several years, people from several parts of Western Australia have been contemplating getting into production. Since late 2016, two enterprises have contacted CRC-REP seeking advice about establishing bush tomato farms that could make significant impact on product supplies. Although these farms are yet to be launched, one of these enterprises at least is considering large-scale production.

Ninti One requires that commercialisation of Plant Business intellectual property is equitable and ensures a share of benefits to the hereditary custodians of the bush food knowledge that underpins our work. To that end, no commercialisation will proceed until formal benefit-sharing agreements are in place. Because plant varieties have originated both from Aboriginal Title Land and from Crown Land, separate agreements are being developed with representatives of the traditional owners and with the Northern Territory Government. The agreement with the NTG has been completed, and the one with traditional custodians is pending.

With the end of CRC-REP in June 2017, Plant Business is finalising its last project tasks. It leaves a legacy of: 

• intellectual property in the form of superior bush tomato varieties
• commitment to binding agreements that ensure the equitable and ethical use of those varieties
• an excellent body of research, publications and discussion (in numerous forums) about safeguarding the interests of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in situations where their cultural property (bush foods in particular) encounters commercialisation – spearheaded by Kylie’s project, we opened new ground in the complex legal and ethical aspects of this issue, and elevated the level of discourse and understanding of the topic in academic circles, in industry, in the law fraternity and among researchers in Australia and internationally
• a broader understanding of bush tomato biology and horticulture
• pilot plot plantings of bush tomatoes that will contribute to market supply and, more importantly, provide the potential to stimulate expansion of production
• an expanded network of stakeholders in the bush foods industry.

Further, the project has served to bring together people where this may not have otherwise happened and fostered the exchange of information, expanded networks and helped build business connections.