Ark of Taste

Protecting Biodiversity

The Ark of Taste is an international project that counts over 5,400 products worldwide that are at risk of becoming extinct due to industrial agriculture, the standardisation and large-scale distribution of global food markets, and environmental issues.

Slow Food Australia’s Ark of Taste reflects our country’s vast landscape of diverse climates, cultures, and unique flora and fauna – from Queensland’s native Bunya nut to Victoria’s heritage pear varieties. Particularly important for the Australian Ark are foods from the traditional diets of indigenous Australians and cultures, such as the Pindan walnut from Western Australia and Finger limes from Australia’s East Coast. These wild foods reflect not only exciting and largely unknown nutritional and flavour profiles, but also the great importance of cultural knowledge and landscapes and the passing on of that knowledge.

The Australian Ark currently includes 23 products, with a lot more in the nomination stage. With our unique flora and fauna, we hope to add many more to the Ark. Anyone, anywhere can nominate a food to the Ark of Taste! Here is a quick look at what it takes to be on the Ark of Taste:

The Ark of Taste is an international project that counts over 5,400 products worldwide that are at risk of becoming extinct due to industrial agriculture, the standardisation and large-scale distribution of global food markets, and environmental issues.

Slow Food Australia’s Ark of Taste reflects our country’s vast landscape of diverse climates, cultures, and unique flora and fauna – from Queensland’s native Bunya nut to Victoria’s heritage pear varieties. Particularly important for the Australian Ark are foods from the traditional diets of indigenous Australians and cultures, such as the Pindan walnut from Western Australia and Finger limes from Australia’s East Coast. These wild foods reflect not only exciting and largely unknown nutritional and flavour profiles, but also the great importance of cultural knowledge and landscapes and the passing on of that knowledge.

The Australian Ark currently includes 23 products, with a lot more in the nomination stage. With our unique flora and fauna, we hope to add many more to the Ark. Anyone, anywhere can nominate a food to the Ark of Taste! Here is a quick look at what it takes to be on the Ark of Taste:

• Endangered: produced in limited quantities, these foods will not be around in another generation or two without immediate action. Risk factors may be biological, commercial, or cultural.

• Good: Ark of Taste products are prized by those who eat them for their special taste or process
  Clean: No engineered foods here; everything on the Ark of Taste is linked to the place and community that protects them, and has the potential to be grown, raised, or produced without harm to the environment.

• Fair: to keep these food traditions alive take many hands. No commercial or trademarked items are allowed on the Ark, only foods that anyone may champion, produce, share, or sell.

These are the Australian products listed in our Ark of Taste.

Get in touch with the Australian Ark of Taste coordinator: Vince Velletri

The following video gives more information about the Ark of Taste

Find out more about our global programs and projects: Global Projects