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Investigating native plants for South ÐÓ°ÉÖ±²¥n pickles

Wednesday, 14 September 2016

The ÐÓ°ÉÖ±²¥ of Adelaide will work with South ÐÓ°ÉÖ±²¥n food manufacturer Spring Gully Foods to investigate potential sources of food colourings among ÐÓ°ÉÖ±²¥n native plants.

The project has been awarded an Innovations Connections Grant of $25,000, under the ÐÓ°ÉÖ±²¥n Government’s Entrepreneurs’ Programme.

Innovation Connections encourages and assists small and medium businesses to access knowledge, engage with researchers and foster innovation.

Dr Casey Hall, Research Associate with the , is focusing on particular arid zone plants known to be edible and with strong colours, initially focusing on some of the saltbush plants found commonly in the outback.

“These salt-tolerant, desert-adapted plants grow abundantly throughout ÐÓ°ÉÖ±²¥,” says Dr Hall. “I will be identifying the pigment compounds and testing extracts with Spring Gully Foods to see how suitable they are, as well as investigating what ecological and environmental factors drive stronger colours.”

Established this year, the ÐÓ°ÉÖ±²¥n Bioactive Compounds Centre is a joint centre between the ÐÓ°ÉÖ±²¥ of Adelaide and the ÐÓ°ÉÖ±²¥ of South ÐÓ°ÉÖ±²¥ which aims to apply ecological and Indigenous knowledge to identifying biologically active compounds from plants found in ÐÓ°ÉÖ±²¥, in particular from arid regions, for commercially useful products.

Centre Co-Director Professor Phil Weinstein says: “This is one of the first projects under the new ÐÓ°ÉÖ±²¥n Bioactive Compounds Centre. This is a perfect example of how we can work with local industry, combining our knowledge and expertise, for a potentially great commercial outcome for South ÐÓ°ÉÖ±²¥n businesses.

“As well as a possible new sources of food colourings, some of these compounds may have potential health benefits and we look forward to exploring those possibilities with Spring Gully Foods.”

Spring Gully Foods Managing Director Kevin Webb says: “The project aligns perfectly with our innovation focus.

“Working with the ÐÓ°ÉÖ±²¥n Bioactive Compounds Centre ABCC will enable us to take advantage of the broad knowledge and research strengths that the ÐÓ°ÉÖ±²¥ sector provides. Industry-research collaborations like these are what is needed to help drive the South ÐÓ°ÉÖ±²¥n economy forward.”

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