A research project is underway to develop a selection of Solanum centrale, or bush tomato, suitable for commercial horticultural production, with a new variety looking likely. The crop, also known as a ‘desert raisin’, is native to the Central Australia and only survives in dry, arid conditions. It has the potential to support rural communities and increase supply of the niche product to local chefs, and for making condiments popular with locals and tourists alike. The project may help ensure more consistent supply nationally for supermarkets and stockists of the value added product as well.
So far results indicate a variety capable of producing a higher yield, and less thorns, is on the way, and registered commercial varieties could be available when the project is completed in June, 2017, according to
project leader and leader for Plant Business for the Cooperative Research Centre for Remote Economic Participation (CRC-REP) Slade Lee. “The determining factor will be whether the appropriate protection of Aboriginal Intellectual Property is in place, rather than the speed at which we can do the plant selection research,” he says. Commercially produced bush tomato is not sold to the public, but will be marketed to small wholesale suppliers and chefs for use in products including chutneys, sauces, sausages, jams and dukkah.
project leader and leader for Plant Business for the Cooperative Research Centre for Remote Economic Participation (CRC-REP) Slade Lee. “The determining factor will be whether the appropriate protection of Aboriginal Intellectual Property is in place, rather than the speed at which we can do the plant selection research,” he says. Commercially produced bush tomato is not sold to the public, but will be marketed to small wholesale suppliers and chefs for use in products including chutneys, sauces, sausages, jams and dukkah.The CRC-REP, the body managing the project, is concerned that activities must acknowledge the hereditary rights of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people working with members of the research team, according to Associate Professor Lee who works at Southern Cross University.
The aim of the project is to provide economic opportunities for traditional custodians of Northern Territory land and produce knowledge, while maintaining the integrity of the traditional lores and rights held by the original owners of the land. “Our aim with this project is to develop a culturally appropriate model for native plant research and development that can be applied to other species, so we are taking the time to negotiate all the cultural permissions and permits in this first example,” says Professor Lee. 
The bush tomato price is usually fairly volatile, and can be affected in drier years, when there is an undersupply. “Overcoming this problem by ensuring a larger and more stable supply from improved varieties is an aim of the Plant Business project,” says Professor Lee.
For more information
Slade Lee, Principal Research Leader - Plant Business & Data & Information Management Team of Southern Cross University
Office of Research Cooperative Research Centre for Remote Economic Participation
E-mail: slade.lee@scu.edu.au
Website: CRC-REP