Niche Markets, Regional Diversification and the Reinvention of Western Australia's Sandalwood Industry

Tonts, Matthew; Selwood, John

doi:10.1046/j.1467-9663.2003.00283.x

Cited by 18 publications

(22 citation statements)

References 15 publications

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“…One consequence of these shifts has been a greater interest in new agricultural niche markets (Tonts and Selwood 2003). However, one of the risks involved in niche markets is that they can quickly suffer the problem of oversupply as a result of increasing competition within markets both locally and internationally (Gasson 1988).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Factors underlying farm diversification: the case of Western Australia’s olive farmers

Northcote

Alonso

2010

Agric Hum Values

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The growth of niche markets in rural industries has been one response to the restructuring of established agricultural industries in developed countries. In some cases entry into niche markets is part of a diversification of activities from other areas of farm-based production or services. In other cases, operators have sought to diversify from niche market production into other areas, such as on-site selling and agritourism. This paper outlines the findings of an exploratory qualitative study of the factors that olive farmers in Western Australia take into account when considering diversification, with a special focus on diversification into servicing visitors in the form of on-site selling and agritourism. Face-to-face and telephone interviews were conducted among 23 small olive growing operations located in the main olive growing region of Western Australia. Decision-making is shown to involve an assessment of risk, which is shaped by their appraisal of economic conditions, market opportunities, access to resources (including labour) and lifestyle factors. The argument is made that a fuller understanding of diversification is gained by studying both those who seek to diversify and those who do not, in contrast to most previous research that has only focussed on those who diversify. Also argued is that diversification is best seen as a continuum of adjustment strategies, which is guided by a combination of economic need, risk assessment (based largely on resource access), market potential and lifestyle factors.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Factors underlying farm diversification: the case of Western Australia’s olive farmers

Northcote

Alonso

2010

Agric Hum Values

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“…The first purpose-built Eucalyptus oil distillation plant was built outside Melbourne in 1854, the Eucalyptus Mallee Company had been formed by 1880, and Australia was the largest world supplier of Eucalyptus oil until the 1970s. As another example, 1,356 tonnes of the Australian species of sandalwood (Santalum spicatum) were exported from Western Australia in 1848, accounting for 45% of the colony's export revenue (Tonts and Selwood 2003).…”

Section: Historical and Industry Context Of Bush Productsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…S. spicatum is principally sourced from licensed harvest in remote regions of Western Australia where some Aboriginal people are engaged as harvesters. However the industry is shifting from arid zone bush harvest to cultivation in agricultural regions (Tonts and Selwood 2003), much of it using Indian sandalwood (Santalum album) (Clarke 2006).…”

Section: Medium Sized Export-oriented Australian Industriesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Policy lessons from practice: Australian bush products for commercial markets

2008

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Bush products provide one of few prospects for new or expanded natural resource-based enterprise activity by indigenous people of remote regions of arid central and tropical northern Australia. Realizing this potential requires development of effective certification or branding, functioning producer associations and joint ventures if returns to Aboriginal people are to improve. Nine steps are suggested as part of a strategy to address the challenges facing viable bush product enterprises.

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“…The importance of niche commodities - Tonts & Selwood, 2003 Diversification and niche marketing have become very important economic strategies for many rural small businesses, farmers and communities. As part of these strategies, new opportunities often emerge for traditional products and industries.…”

Section: Under-utilised African Plant Species Waiting To Be Domesticatedmentioning

confidence: 99%

African Botanical Heritage for New Crop Development

Damme

Termote

2008

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The African continent is rather poor in plant biodiversity when compared to other continents on and around the equator. Nevertheless, lots of useful plant species have been domesticated from Sub-Sahara Africa material. Ethnobotanical research offers the possibility to collect information on the use and utility of wild plant species from traditional peoples often living in or close to a challenging natural environment. This type of information then allows us to find new candidates for domestication and subsequent crop development for income generation and increased food security. The case of Gnetum africanum illustrates the practical implications of developing a lesserknown species, and highlights the institutional problems that go together with niche crop development. The latter are subsequently presented and discussed in extenso, and solutions proposed in a second part of this review text.

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Niche Markets, Regional Diversification and the Reinvention of Western Australia's Sandalwood Industry

Cited by 18 publications

References 15 publications

Factors underlying farm diversification: the case of Western Australia’s olive farmers

Factors underlying farm diversification: the case of Western Australia’s olive farmers

Policy lessons from practice: Australian bush products for commercial markets

African Botanical Heritage for New Crop Development

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