Agave
Agave originates from Mexico and is used for syrups, spirits, fibre and fodder.
Agave is a succulent native to the American continent, with different varieties from regions including Mexico, Arizona, Texas and California. It is drought tolerant, suited to arid and desert climates.
At maturity, Agave plants produce a sugary sap which can be distilled into spirits (including tequila), used as a syrup, or as a biofuel. As a by-product, the leaves are used in some countries as a source of feed for livestock.
The agave industry is an emerging industry in Australia.
There is currently no commercial cultivation in the Northern Territory.
Developing sustainable and diversified farming systems for the NT - Agave trials
This project is investigating the suitability of different varieties of Agave across the Northern Territory. It will determine which (if any) varieties suitable for commercial use can be grown in Darwin, Katherine and Central Australian conditions.
Critically, it will demonstrate the capacity of the crop to be grown without irrigation. If successful, the work will allow growers the potential to diversify into crops that are less reliant on water and improve their resilience in dry years. This is the first stage of an investigation into the possibility of agave as a commercially viable crop in the Territory.
Funding body
The project, developing sustainable and diversified farming systems for the NT, received funding from the Australian Government’s Future Drought Fund to establish the trials. The ongoing management is funded by the Northern Territory Government.
Objectives
- Trial Agave tequiliana and Agave durangensis, in multiple locations across the Northern Territory, including Darwin, Katherine, Ali Curung and Alice Springs, assessing the plants in different environmental conditions.
- Enable growers to have a hands on experience with the crop on farm, through small scale grower demonstration plots.
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