NOTICE: Hard copies of the Australian New Crops Newsletter are available from the publisher, Dr Rob Fletcher. Details of availability are included in the
Advice on Publications Available.Some new crops being trialled at Lincoln New Zealand:
Valerian (Valeriana officinalis)
Perennial from Europe. Root extracts used as sedative and relaxant. Main market Germany. Crop establishment difficult. Market risk moderate.
Echinacea (coneflower) (Echinacea purpurea)
Perennial from North America. Extracts from roots and tops used as immune system enhancer and wound healer. Main markets: Germany, United States. Crop establishment difficult. Market risk moderate.
Variegated thistle (milk thistle) (Silybum marianum)
Established biennial weed from Europe. Silymarin extracted from seed used as liver detoxicant. Main market: Germany. NZ seed quality unknown. Market risk high.
Licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra)
Spreading perennial from southern Europe. Glycyrrhizin extracted from roots and rhizomes and used as flavouring agent, antidote, and in ulcer treatment. Grown as a wide row crop, and harvested overseas after three to four years to about one metre d epth. Market risk high.
Yam (oca) (Oxalis tuberosa)
Annual from South America. Tubers used as cooked vegetable. Main market in New Zealand. Potential in Asia and North America. Main agronomic problem: weeds. Market risk high.
Yacon (Polymnia sonchifolia)
Annual from South America. Tuber used as salad vegetable, source of inulin. Becoming popular in Japan. Establishment difficult. Market risk high.
Mashua (Tropaeolum tuberosum)
Annual from South America. Tubers used as a cooked vegetable. Reportedly highly insect resistant. Unknown on market. Market risk high.
Wasabi (Wasabi japonica)
Perennial from Japan. Stems and other plant parts used to prepare a hot sauce important in Japanese cuisine. Traditionally grown in running water but now being commercially grown in soil. Needs heavy shade. Susceptible to diseases and pests. Market risk low.
Myoga ginger (Zingiber mioga)
Perennial from Japan. Underground flower buds used as salad vegetable in Japan. Commercially grown in New Zealand. Needs heavy shade. Unreliable production. Market risk high.
Saffron (Crocus sativus)
Perennial from eastern Mediterranean. Red stigmas dried and used as spice in cooking. Harvesting very labour intensive. Not cost competitive on international market.
Some questions to consider before growing a new crop:
Contact:
Dick Martin
Telephone: 0011 64 3325 6400
Facsimile: 0015 64 3325 2074
Any claims made by authors in the Australian New Crops Newsletter are presented by the Editors in good faith. Readers would be wise to critically examine the circumstances associated with any claims to determine the applicability of such claims to their specific set of circumstances. This material can be reproduced, with the provision that the source and the author (or editors, if applicable) are acknowledged and the use is for information or educational purposes. Contact with the original author is probably wise since the material may require updating or amendment if used in other publications. Material sourced from the Australian New Crops Newsletter cannot be used out of context or for commercial purposes not related to its original purpose in the newsletter
Contact: Dr Rob Fletcher, School of Land and Food, The University of Queensland Gatton College, 4345; Telephone: 07 5460 1311 or 07 5460 1301; Facsimile: 07 5460 1112; International facsimile: 61 7 5460 1112; Email:
r.fletcher@mailbox.uq.edu.au[
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GK; latest update 6 June 1999 by: RF