Summary

This industry situational analysis – is the first in Australia – explored and pursued options for developing a rice industry in northern Australia. It assessed the current status of the rice market, rice production, and barriers to industry growth in northern Australia, across Australia and globally. The study evaluated three key options for industry development:

• Wild rice production
• Northern Australian rice production
• Improved rice production

Wild rice production

This option involves the commercial production of wild rice as a distinct Australian food product. It includes evaluating the potential for both wild harvesting and cultivation of wild rice species in northern Australia.

Northern Australian rice production

This option assesses the potential to establish a unique Australian variety of domesticated rice by transferring key attributes from Australian wild rice into domesticated rice. This would enable viable production by providing resistance to major local pests and diseases, while also introducing novel consumer traits such as grain size, colour and texture.

Improved rice production

This option explores the commercial use of genes from Australian wild rice to support global rice breeding production. It includes research into how these genes can help rice adapt to climate change.

As part of the project, a Northern Australian Rice Industry Support Group was established to provide stewardship for the emerging industry. This group examined historical development patterns and baseline industry characteristics – including size, production, income, productivity measures and employment levels – to better understand capacity and scalability limitations.

Expected outcomes

• The project provided an overview and recommendations on high-priority policy, investment and research and development issues facing the industry. It also identified where the CRCNA, industry and government should focus their research investment within the sector.
• The early (conservative) economic impact is expected to come from wild rice production. At a retail price of $100 per kilogram, producing 100 tonnes by year five would generate $10 million annually. Over the longer term a ‘North Australian Rice’ grade produced at a volume of 10,000 tonnes per year and sold at $5 per kilogram could be worth $50 million annually.