Katanning Landcare releases guide on saline bush foods after four years of tests

Great Southern landowners with saline soils are being given new ideas for their land, with the launch of a locally produced guide to growing bush foods.

Katanning Landcare has released the Saline Bush Foods Manual after four years of work in developing both supply and demand for the niche native plants.

Landcare officer Ella Maesepp said the project had brought together farmers, food marketers, horticulturalists and soil scientists.

“Salinity is a major issue facing southern Australian agriculture, and finding ways to produce viable food crops from salt-affected land whilst improving its environmental condition can be a game changer,” she said.

Four bush food product lines have been developed through the scheme, with saltbush, pigface, ice-plant and samphire now being served in hospitality venues across the country, which includes Perth’s Fleur and Sydney’s Quay restaurants.

Ms Maesepp said the manual was a compilation of years of research.

“We hope it will help other landholders with salinity on their property to make an informed choice as to whether the saline bush foods industry may be right for them,” she said.

A training day will be held on March 24 at the project site in Badgebup for landowners who are interested in producing saline bush foods.

For more information, contact Katanning Landcare on 9821 4327 or ella@katanninglandcare.org.au.