Summary

CRCNA project A.2.1819045, “Spicing up northern Australia with high value condiment crops”, established that three spice crops – sesame, fennel, and kalonji – have potential as cash crops for northern Australian producers. This follow-up project builds on the initial work and will investigate four key themes to address the major impediments to developing these crops into a  viable commercial spice industry in northern Australia.

The Great Northern Spices project will provide environment-specific recommendations and industry knowledge to support growers in integrating spice crops into both new and existing northern farming systems. This includes planting protocols and pest management strategies, supported by the development of a compendium of weeds, pests, diseases, and their control options. The project will also explore best-practice machinery use and settings to ensure optimal crop emergence and yield, as well as post-harvest processes such as drying and cleaning to maintain seed quality.

In addition, the project will provide gross margin analyses and explore value chain options across northern farming systems. It will also generate the data required to support the development of crop-specific export protocols.

Check out the grower guide factsheets in publications below!

Access the Sesame Diseases and Pests journal article here: https://www.mdpi.com/2673-7655/5/4/44

Expected outcomes

The development of a commercially viable Great Northern Spice industry – producing sesame (black and white), kalonji and fennel – will be achieved through the generation of new knowledge, extension activities and capacity building. Based on forward inquiry from both domestic and international customers, AgriVentis Technologies Pty Ltd conservatively forecasts that by the end of 2026, market demand will support at least:

• 5000 hectares of sesame (non-shattering black and white) production across the various regions in northern Australia.
• 1000 hectares of kalonji production.
• 500 hectares of fennel production.

Increasing yields in these crops is expected to drive significant economic gains for producers through higher farm gate prices and improved return on investment.

Visit AgriVentis for more resources on growing sesame in northern Australia:  https://www.agriventis.tech/resources