Ginger

Information on current partnerships and research activities with the ginger growers.

Establishing an NT ginger industry

Edible ginger (Zingiber officinale) is used as a fresh product and as an ingredient in a wide range of products for the food manufacturing sector. Farm-gate gross volume of product (GVP) is presently estimated at $32 million with 20% of ginger grown in Australia sold to the processing sector and 80% sold to the domestic fresh market. There are around 50 growers, primarily based in Queensland (QLD) growing two main cultivars, Canton and QLD Gold. Ginger production in Australia has been adversely affected by soil-borne pest and disease issues including fusarium, pythium, and root-knot nematodes.

Pest and disease management is a major production cost for Australian ginger producers. Growing in a containerised production system in shade-house structures using sterilised media can potentially overcome some of these issues. The opportunity exists for Northern Territory (NT) producers to grow ginger for clean planting seed stock to supply QLD growers and/or to provide a quality product for both processed and fresh ginger to the Australian market during periods of low ginger production in South-east Queensland.

Funding body

This project is internally funded.

Objectives

  1. Produce clean tissue cultured material, for release under an Expression of Interest for commercial growers.
  2. Provide commercial growers with “clean” ginger tissue culture material for production purposes, under a Material Transfer Agreement.
  3. Establish plants from each variety at CPRF as a demonstration plot to drive peer to peer networks via field walks.
  4. Assess growth and yield of different varieties.

Useful links

Contact

chelsea.moore@nt.gov.au


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