Supporting native seed production

The Northern Native Seed Industry Development Initiative supports innovation in native seed technologies, storage, treatment and testing operations and the preservation of Traditional Ecological Knowledge.

Six Aboriginal enterprises will share in $2.1 million in State Government funding to support the production of native seeds for land restoration and rehabilitation across regional Western Australia. 

The grants will assist Aboriginal enterprises to establish native Seed Production Area trial sites for land restoration and rehabilitation across the Pilbara, Goldfields and Kimberley regions.

Seed Production Areas are an innovative approach to meeting the increasing demand for native seed supply for land restoration, carbon farming and other biodiversity initiatives. Mining companies, for example, require vast quantities of native seed to meet their post-closure revegetation obligations, and demand is outstripping supply.  

Seed Production Areas can play a role in meeting this shortfall and boost economic development throughout regional WA. 

The Northern Native Seed Industry Development Initiative grants will enhance Aboriginal economic opportunities and provide local, nature-based employment and training opportunities, as well as providing existing native seed industry participants access to new markets. 

The Northern Native Seed Initiative is a collaboration between the Pilbara, Kimberley, and Goldfields-Esperance Development Commissions, with two grant recipients in each region.

Images credit: Goldfields Esperance Development Commission.