Aims:

The Traditional Australian Medicinal Plants Agribusiness project is an Australian-first $1.01 million research and commercial partnership that aims to explore the development of a sustainable agribusiness model for traditional Australian medicinal plants growing in Northern Australia.

The partnership includes Menzies School of Health Research (Menzies), Traditional Homeland Enterprises (T.H.E.), Integria Healthcare (Integria), The University of Queensland and the Cooperative Research Centre for Developing Northern Australia (CRCNA).

Traditional medicinal plants will be evaluated to develop prototype healthcare products. Together in consultation with Indigenous organisations and Traditional Owners in the Top End, the suitability and sustainability of potential marketable plants will be assessed. We will work together to develop pathways to successful business models, developing benefit sharing and intellectual property arrangements that recognise traditional knowledge and plant origins. A long-term aim of the project is to develop on-country economic opportunities for Indigenous communities.

The Menzies Child Health Laboratory will have a leading role in examining the antimicrobial activity of documented medicinal plants traditionally used by Top End Indigenous communities against pathogens that have significant impacts on rural and remote communities. This work will also provide training opportunities for young Indigenous scientists in the lab.

Northern Territory communities using or producing bush medicines, currently undertaking commercial harvest of plant products (for example Kakadu Plum), with established ranger or women’s groups involved in land care, who are interested or want to be keep up to date in the progress of the study are invited to contact us.
 

Chief Investigator:
Project manager:
Project dates:

The project commenced in October 2018 and will conclude in December 2020.