The currently focus is on a bush produce project which will develop both wild harvest and horticulture for bush tucker, medicine and possibly pharmaceuticals. The aim is to grow an industry that will provide income and employment opportunities to Aboriginal and Pastoral groups as well as developing local processing capacities. It is hoped to hold a workshop for interested parties within the next few months. This program group is also identifying other land management capacities within the region with a view to developing business opportunities. The primary short-term project will be to hold a desert knowledge technical service suppliers forum and resources to do this are currently being sought.
Sites are to be sought to showcase best practice desert knowledge technical solutions.
A waste re-use symposium is also being considered. This key initiative will provide enhanced capacity for the desert knowledge economy by providing a range of services and network coordination. Professor Richard Blandy of Flinders University is assisting with this project and identifying potential funding sources. The group has held its initial meeting and resolved that initial project areas should be in the areas of clean energy, communications and bush produce with focus on the region s strategic advantages in remote delivery and cross-cultural engagement. This program seeks to attract more postgraduate students to the region by coordinating the back-up resources available from local businesses and agencies.