The commercial production of Australian native finger lime (Citrus australasica) as an emerging industry in need of provenance, research and representation.

In the absence of representation and proprietorship, Australia stands to lose the provenance of some of its unique and extraordinary native foods and botanicals. Without protective measures, international companies have the potential to exploit and commercialise these foods, and to do so without acknowledging their origins. This loss of provenance not only threatens the cultural heritage tied to these foods but also the domestic economic opportunities they could generate. Strong provenance protections are essential to secure recognition and to sustain the cultural significance of Australia's native bushfoods.

As the peak industry body (PIB), Australian Native Food and Botanicals (ANFAB) aims to represent all interests in the rapidly growing Australian native food and botanical sector. Due to the diverse range of products at various stages of development, however, there is very little representation for each individual industry. Currently ANFAB attempts to represent the interests of 13 different native industries. With only limited support from the Australian Government these 13 native food industries lack any form of individual representation. In contrast, the Australian Macadamia nut industry has challenged this trend. It has done so through representation by the Australian Macadamia Society (AMS) which has enabled this industry to thrive. AMS has been successful through the provision of quality representation, acknowledgement of provenance, directed research and international leadership.

The finger lime, a native Australian citrus, is one such native food that is rapidly growing in popularity both in Australia and internationally. Until recently, the nascent finger lime industry has had only limited representation. Rather than individual representation, the question often posed has always been whether finger limes should sit under ANFAB or should they be included in the Australian Citrus PIB, Citrus Australia? There is an evidence-based argument that finger limes should, like many Australian native foods, form their own PIB. A finger lime PIB would have a twofold benefit; first, to ensure both the provenance and cultural recognition that is embodied in the goals of ANFAB are encompassed, and second, coordinating the in-depth species and industry-related research and marketing that Citrus Australia signifies.  

This report explores finger limes and their increased popularity on the international stage. This increasing popularity raises the urgency for Australia to ensure it retains leadership of the finger lime industry and establishes and maintains the recognition of provenance for such a unique fruit. This report explores the rise of finger lime production internationally, including the realisation that the largest producer in the world is not in Australia where the fruit originates, but is, Prime Tropics, in Guatemala. Furthermore, this report covers the latest leading research by Australian Universities as well as the University of California, and it identifies the challenges ahead for greater industry leadership by Australia. 

Detailed in the following pages, is a comprehensive investigation into the challenges and opportunities within a relatively new industry, and its need to ensure representation, provenance and leadership. Underscoring all of this is the need for continued research and development to ensure the viability and growth of finger lime production in Australia and beyond.