Spicy new crops delivering for Northern Australia

Challenge:

Northern Australia comprises more than half of Australia's land mass and is home to vast agricultural land suitable for spice production. 

Until recently, Australian consumption of high-value crops like sesame has relied on entirely on overseas growers – with more than 13,000 tonnes of sesame products alone are imported annually, valued at more than $57 million. 

Australian growers lacked the research, genetics, production knowledge and harvesting systems required for large-scale adoption.

Researchers from CQUniversity Australia's Institute for Future Farming Systems (IFFS) are working to unlock new agricultural opportunities, ensuring growers can access cutting-edge science and support on-farm and through the supply chain.

The $4.5 million Great Northern Spices project is primarily funded by the Cooperative Research Centre for Developing Northern Australia (CRCNA), as part of strategic investment to develop new technologies, products and services which address industry issues unique to Northern Australia.

At the same time, local spice production could improve national food security and reduce reliance on unpredictable import markets. 

Solution:

An initial project ‘Spicing up Northern Australia’ identified three high-value crops as best potential for success: sesame, fennel and kalonji (black seed).

Established in 2022, following on from ‘Spicing up Northern Australia’ the four-year Great Northern Spices project is working to develop the foundations for commercially viable Australian spices.

For the past four years, researchers have worked with growers across Rockhampton, Emerald, Tully, Katherine and Kununurra to tackle the technical and commercial barriers to adoption. 

CQUniversity’s research agronomist Associate Professor Tieneke Trotter is leading the program, and said 2025 trial crops grown at the Central Queensland Smart Farm in Emerald were particularly exciting.

“Initial trials showed promise for the adaptability of these crops to the northern environment in winter, and the crop performance in Emerald has completed the picture around viability due to yield performance,” Assoc Prof Trotter explained.

The project has also:

• Developed best-practice agronomy for yield, quality and profitability
• Investigated nutrition, weed, pest and disease management strategies
• Customised and tested machinery for planting, harvesting, cleaning and processing small-seeded spice crops
• Conducted value-chain development and gross margin analysis to demonstrate commercial opportunities.

Impact:

The research team has recently published grower guides and extension resources on the CRCNA project website, and shared findings at field days to support industry adoption.

Growers will also access best-practice support beyond the life of the project, with the new Sesame Central Program at CQUniversity that’s providing national coordination for sesame research and accelerating industry development, with the support of AgriFutures Australia and the Australian Sesame Industry Program of Research. 

Successful trials of new high-yield, non-shattering sesame varieties represented a significant breakthrough, enabling mechanical harvesting and improving commercial feasibility.

Beyond on-farm benefits, Great Northern Spices and Sesame Central are contributing to broader regional development, through new high-value agricultural industries, economic diversification, and strengthened supply chains. 

With continued research, industry engagement and adoption, Great Northern Spices and Sesame Central are laying the groundwork for a new agricultural sector that could transform Northern Australia's cropping landscape.