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.
Angasi Oyster
Australian Native Raspberry
Bimbala
Blacklip Abalone
Bogong Moth
Bull Boar sausage
Bunya Nuts
Bush Banana
Bush Bean
Bush Coconut
Bush Onion
Bush Potato
Bush Tomato
Central Australia Wild Plum
Cole’s Wattle
Cumbungi
Dairy Shorthorn cattle breed
Davidson’s Plum
Dead Fish
Desert Pear
Desert Quandong
Desert Raisin
Desert Truffle
Desert Yam
Eel-tailed catfish
Finger Lime
Galloway cattle
Gin Perry Pear
Green Horse Perry Pear
Honeypot Ants
Kangaroo Grass
Kangaroo Island Ligurian bee honey
Leatherwood Honey
Manna Wattle
Margaret River Hairy Marron
Monaro Purple
Moorcroft Perry Pear
Murray Cod
Murray Crayfish
Native Blackseed Samphire
Native Cabbage-Tree Palm
Native Millet
Native Mint
Native Sarsaparilla
North Rothbury Persoonia
Old Man Saltbush
Parakeelya
Paterson River Orange
Pencil Yam
Pindan Walnut
Red Longdon Perry Pear
Rosella jam
Smooth Davidson Plum
Smooth Skin Geraldton tomato
Swan Valley Sun-Dried Muscat Grapes
Wessex Saddleback Pig
Western Australian Sandalwood
Wild orange
Wild passionfruit
Witchetty Grub
Yam Daisy
Yellow Huffcap Perry Pear
Youlk
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