‘Together We Grow, Together We Prosper’ artwork by David Williams of Gilimbaa.
Collaborating to agree what characteristics must be included in definitions for Indigenous agricultural products, and to develop an evidence base to support the future development of Indigenous agricultural product credentials.
The first of its kind in Australia, the Indigenous Agricultural Product Framework project (the Project) represents a unique opportunity to agree what overarching characteristics and principles must be included in claims about Indigenous agricultural products. This framework of principles will then allow for individual Indigenous product definitions to be created, that fit within those principles.
The Project will also provide an evidence base about the current value of Indigenous agricultural products, and the potential economic and community benefits of being able to identify and promote Indigenous agricultural produce, in both the domestic and export markets. Further, it will look at the existing challenges and potential opportunities in the Indigenous agricultural sector that will help establish individual Indigenous agricultural product credentials. A credential is a way of proving the characteristics of a claim against a product definition, for those characteristics that are not obvious or easily seen by the naked eye. For example, that a Kakadu Plum comes from the Kakadu region.
Once established and in use, the Indigenous Agricultural Product Framework will provide ongoing prosperity to Indigenous peoples and business through demonstrating authenticity, proving world-leading practices, and protecting and verifying claims about Indigenous agricultural products.
The Project is gathering Indigenous perspectives to inform the principles for defining their agricultural products and assessing options for a supporting credentials system, which combined will inform an Indigenous Agricultural Product Framework.
Through building agreement on defining overarching principles for Indigenous agricultural products and providing tangible recommendations to enable the uptake of a credentials system to distinguish these products in market, the Project aims to create ripples of growth that will be felt for generations to come.
‘Together We Grow, Together We Prosper’ artwork by David Williams of Gilimbaa.
Timeline of outcomes
The Final Report outlines the design and implementation strategy for the Indigenous Agricultural Product Framework (IAPF), a nationally consistent, culturally grounded system to recognise and credential Indigenous agricultural products. It responds to growing domestic and global demand for authentic, ethically sourced goods and aims to empower Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander producers through economic inclusion, cultural integrity, and market access. The report consolidates two years of research, consultation, and economic modelling, validating five defining characteristics of Indigenous products: Indigenous ownership, cultural connection, connection to Country, caring for Country, and benefit-sharing.
Content Summary
The report covers nine core areas:
Main Recommendations
Key recommendations include adopting the Enhanced Assurance credential model, which balances credibility, cost, and accessibility (BCR 3.6; NPV $79.6m). Governance should be Indigenous-led, supported by transitional government funding and capacity-building. The Framework must integrate internationally recognised standards for interoperability while embedding cultural identifiers and consent protocols. A national uplift agenda is proposed to address capability gaps in digital literacy, infrastructure, and export readiness, alongside investment in shared processing facilities and tailored financial instruments.
Implementation Roadmap
The roadmap sets out a three-phase, five-year plan:
Strategic Impact
The Framework positions Australia as a global leader in ethical, Indigenous-led agriculture. It offers a pathway to economic self-determination for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities while safeguarding cultural heritage and promoting sustainability. Successful implementation will require cross-sector collaboration—government for policy and funding, industry for market integration, and Indigenous producers as custodians and decision-makers.
The full Final Report can be found here.
Following extensive consultation with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and others, the NFF have developed the following set of characteristics and a definition for Indigenous agricultural products. The characteristics and definition reflect the views and perspectives shared across interviews, roundtables, surveys and desktop research.
The NFF would like to acknowledge and thank all those who contributed their time, knowledge and expertise into this project so far.
As part of this approach, the NFF hosted a series of six virtual roundtables to test the findings from the consultations conducted across Australia with Indigenous people and businesses and build a consensus around the characteristics that could define an Indigenous Agricultural Product, as well as support for a credential system.
Learn more about the Roundtable discussions here.
The five key characteristics are: Connection to Culture, Connection to Country, Caring for Country, and Access and Benefit Sharing, with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Producers at the centre. These characteristics help distinguish Indigenous agricultural products from non-Indigenous products, and help ensure their unique cultural and environmental value is recognised and preserved.
The definition of Indigenous agricultural products received strong support from stakeholders. The refined defined definition is:
“An Indigenous Agricultural Product refers to the use of land, air, and waters by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander owned and operated organisations to produce primary products, while also caring for Country. Indigenous agricultural products, both cultivated and wild-harvested, create opportunities for access and benefit sharing with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and reflect the cultural connection between the producers and the product.”
There is strong support for a credential system to assure the authenticity of Indigenous agricultural products. However, the NFF recognises the sector’s concerns about potential implementation of a credential and the currently fragmented regulatory environment. The NFF also recognises the need for broader supports, beyond a credential system and regulatory environment, to build the capability and capacity of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander producers.
The report consolidating work to date can be found in our Assessment Report.
This part of the project broadly concerns an assessment of potential benefits flowing from a future Indigenous Agricultural Product Framework. A report describes this assessment across three streams of work:
Key findings include:
The full Benefits and Gaps Analysis report can be read here.
The recording of our latest public webinar from 6th December 2024 can be watched here.
This period of the project also included a regulatory analysis which can be found here.
The analysis considers relevant Australian legal and regulatory models, industry standards and practices, and Indigenous decision-making models (including customary laws and protocols) relevant to Indigenous agricultural products. It also includes relevant international examples that can support the development of the Indigenous Agricultural Product Framework.
The assessment confirms that Indigenous agricultural products hold strong potential in premium international markets, driven by global demand for authenticity, sustainability, and ethical sourcing. However, current export participation by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander agribusinesses remains very low — less than 1.5% of Indigenous businesses are engaged in export, and even fewer within agriculture.
Key findings include:
The full Export maturity and opportunity assessment report can be read here.
The Indigenous Agricultural Product Framework is the first of its kind in Australia and focuses on empowering First Nations people in the nation’s agricultural sectors.
First Nations knowledge and thinking will be found at its centre. The voices of this land’s first agriculturalists, innovators, and scientists will be heard at its heart.
First Nations people have cared for the lands and waters, and mastered agricultural techniques over thousands of years, passing on stories, expertise, and knowledge for the benefit of future generations.
The Framework can be an important part of securing a more prosperous and equitable future for all Australians, too.
Its success relies on the connections and collaborations between its creators and caretakers as they embark on this journey.
By increasing recognition of First Nations people in agriculture, it can be a platform for change.
And by strengthening economic opportunities for First Nations people, it can help to close the gaps and empower all Australians to grow and prosper together.
The artwork concept and narrative was developed by David Williams. David is a proud Wakka Wakka artist at Gilimbaa.
‘Together We Grow, Together We Prosper’ artwork by David Williams of Gilimbaa.
We acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of Land and Sea Country. Recognising their continuing connection to land, waters, and culture; we pay our respects to their Elders past, present and emerging.
We respect and acknowledge Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people as the First farmers of Australia.
Project Sponsors & Partners
The Indigenous Agriculture Product Framework project is jointly funded by the Australia Government Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) and the Indigenous Land and Sea Corporation (ILSC).
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