SUBJECTS: Science
YEARS: 5–6, 7–8
Which native plant might provide a ready-made crop that could be used as a very nutritious food source?
Meet two South Australian growers who are investigating just such a native crop.
Find out more about the seed crop that does not require significant amounts of water or fertiliser and has a long history of use by Indigenous Australians.
Things to think about
- 1.Why might native plants be better adapted to drought conditions than seed crops brought in from overseas?
- 2.What reasons does Neville Bonney give for how wattleseed might help to alleviate some of the developing world's food shortages? How would you describe when and how the seeds are collected? Listen for how many types of acacia grow in Australia and how many have seeds suitable as a food source.
- 3.Neville Bonney has been investigating wattleseed for over forty years, but for thousands of years wattleseed has been a valued food source for Aboriginal peoples. Why might European settlers have been unaware of the potential of wattleseed as a food source?
- 4.Locate wattle trees (acacias) in a nearby park or in a botanical garden, and look for pods that may still have seed, or for seeds lying on the ground. Draw, photograph or describe what you see. Research wattleseed crops and the physical conditions they require, including the amount of water they need. Who is growing the crops and buying wattleseeds?
Date of broadcast: 26 Apr 2009
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