Australian native plants are beautiful and potentially profitable

The export trade in Australian native flowers and foliage from Queensland is expected to grow into a $60 million industry in a decade through research and development programs in a new centre at The University of Queensland Gatton.

Meeting the demand for the ultra profitable Australian native flower and foliage export market without the need for wild harvesting is the vision of the recently-launched Centre for Native Floriculture.

Queensland Premier Peter Beattie, University of Queensland Vice-Chancellor Professor John Hay and Dr Aila Keto, President of the Australian Rainforest Conservation Society launched the Centre in May.

The State Government will provide $2 million over three years to establish the Centre, which grew out of the South East Queensland Regional Forest Agreement to gradually eliminate bush harvesting of native flowers and foliage.

The world trade in cut native flowers is estimated at $400 million a year and expanding by 7 percent annually, of which Queensland is estimated to supply 2.5 percent.

Australia is believed to hold one of the greatest ranges of floricultural biodiversity in the world, with 25,000 native species, 30 to 50 percent of which are found in Queensland.

Business development and floriculture research at the Centre will address problems such as the small size of production units, geographic disbursement and a lack of focus on market and new product development.

The establishment of the Centre began in 2001 when the State Government commissioned UQ to conduct a feasibility study and business development plan for the commercial production of native flowers and foliage.

The University's main technology commercialisation company, UniQuest Pty Limited, played a significant role in developing the Centre. This included undertaking the feasibility study, developing the business plan, and negotiating the terms of the contract with the Queensland State Development Department.

Professor Hay said he expected the Centre's work to attract further support from other stakeholders.

He said the basic genetic resources to further the development of the floriculture industry could be found in Queensland.

"The existing skills and knowledge in value chain management, breeding and biotechnology and capacity building at UQ and other Queensland institutions and agencies can be utilised to ensure industry development," he said.

Centre for Native Floriculture www.uq.edu.au/uqresearchers/unit/nativeflora.html

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