With a representative body now in place, attention turned to the research gaps limiting industry growth. King identified three key areas: • Agronomic practices: Despite being native to Australia, there is limited research on optimal growing conditions. Many producers rely on techniques adapted from other crops without scientific validation. • Varietal standards: With over 30 varieties available in nurseries, the lack of standardisation creates market confusion and inconsistent consumer experiences. • Market development: While the industry has grown from $600,000 in 2017 to $3.1 million in 2020, export opportunities remain constrained by strict quarantine requirements and uncoordinated marketing. Jade also emphasised the importance of cultural recognition. Finger limes have been used by Indigenous Australians for thousands of years, and ethical industry development must acknowledge this heritage. Currently, only one finger lime cultivar has Plant Breeder’s Rights, leaving most varieties vulnerable to misappropriation. Her work demonstrates how targeted research can catalyse industry transformation, establishing new bodies, guiding research priorities, and unlocking market potential. The lessons extend beyond finger limes, offering insights for Australia’s broader native food sector, which is projected to double in value to $160 million by 2025. AgriFutures’ investment in Jade’s scholarship exemplifies its commitment to growing the long-term prosperity of Australian rural industries. By enabling her international study,AgriFutures supported insights that are now shaping national strategy. The Nuffield program, established in 1951, continues building capacity for producers, businesses and rural communities through its network of over 500 Australian scholars and nearly 2,000 worldwide. Applications for AgriFutures-sponsored Nuffield Scholarships are open to Australian citizens or permanent residents aged 28-45 (with exceptions for exceptional candidates) engaged in farming, horticulture, fishing or associated industries.As Jade’s journey shows, one scholarship can spark change across an entire industry, and help secure Australia’s agricultural future. Spain and Croatia. Yet many international producers lack varietal knowledge, some are unknowingly growing Frustrime hybrids that don’t deliver the signature caviar-like pearls of true finger limes. A key insight from Jade’s research was the importance of strong industry representation. She found that the success of the Australian macadamia industry was underpinned by the Australian Macadamia Society, which provided coordinated advocacy, research direction and provenance protection. In contrast, the finger lime industry was fragmented, with no dedicated voice. Jade’s recommendations led to the formation of the Australian Native Finger lime Alliance (ANFA) in early 2024. Today, ANFA represents more than 34 growers and over 50,000 trees across eastern Australia. 6 BUSINESS VIEW OCEANIA VOLUME 07, ISSUE 08
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