A Sunshine Coast hinterland farmer researching the potential of the weed Giant Rat Tail (GRT) grass has found one species has similar nutritional properties to edible Teff seed.
GRT is an invasive grass that can reduce pasture productivity, out-compete pasture grasses and cause significant degradation of land.
PHOTO of roadside Giant Rat Tail grass by Francois Roussea
Two of the twenty six species of GRT grass are listed under the Biosecurity Act 2014 requiring everyone to take all reasonable and practical measures to minimise biosecurity risks associated with invasive plants under their control.
A way to avoid herbicides?
The recommended herbicides to control GRT grass are Roundup and Flupropanate.
Belli Park cattle and pork farmer, Victoria Kane, hopes her Masters research will find an alternative to herbicides by capturing GRT seed as a possible human food.
Ms Kane, who has a Medical Science Degree in nutrition, bought the family farm nine years ago.
‘Sunshine Coast Council officers said “get rid of the GRT” but we are a regenerative farm and I didn’t want to use the approved herbicides,’ Ms Kane said.
‘I was chipping out the GRT and throwing out pasture seed. As a nutritionist, food is front of mind and I wondered if maybe we can eat this stuff.’
Macronutrients found in GRT
Ms Kane’s initial research for her undergraduate degree found macro nutrients were present in the seed of the Sporobolus Pyramidalis species of GRT (one of the species listed in the Biosecurity Act).
Reasearcher and farmer Victoria Kane with GRT at her Belli Park property. PHOTO: Brea Martin
‘That was unsurprising because seeds are nutritionally dense.’
She got approval and a scholarship to do a Masters at QUT to further research the exact nutritional properties of GRT.
So far, Ms Kane has discovered GRT has comparable levels of protein, lipids and starch to Teff: an edible grain used widely as a food in Africa.
‘This showed GRT seeds have potential nutritional value for human consumption; however, the exact concentration of protein, starch and lipids was not determined,’ Ms Kane said.
‘Further research is required to quantify the levels of these nutrients and suitability of GRT seeds for human consumption.’
Could fortify foods
Ms Kane said edible GRT grass seeds could be used to fortify other foods, such as flour.
‘Most of the global food supply is wheat, rice and corn which is nutrient deficient. The World Health Organisation is calling for fortified flours with Zinc, Vitamins A and B and other nutrients added.
‘In Australia we already fortify wheat with folate. GRT could be used to fortify flour. If we can change the mindset about GRT and find a good way it can be used – it could benefit farmers and the community and mean less herbicides going into the ground.’
The seed head of GRT is the potential food source. PHOTO by Francois Roussea
The next stage of Ms Kane’s research involves identifying the precise nutritional profile of GRT in particular proteins and fatty acids and key minerals: iron, zinc, magnesium calcium.
Fellow nutritionist says wild foods healthy
High profile former nutritionist Catherine Saxelby said many edible weeds were higher in important vitamins (beta-carotene), minerals (potassium) and phyto-nutrients (polyphenols) than cultivated vegetables.
High profile nutritionist Catherine Saxelby says seeds are packed with nutrition. PHOTO: supplied
‘The wild foods were more nutritious because they had not been bred for reduced bitterness, greater yield, ease of transport and bigger leaves,’ Ms Saxelby said.
She said all seeds were nutritionally dense and a source of good fats.
‘Using grass seeds such as Sporobolus Pyramidalis to fortify wheat flour could be a good idea.’
Plant scientist backs research on emerging crops
Professor Rachel Burton, a plant scientist and emerging crop researcher from the University of Adelaide, said areas in Australia where traditional crops such as wheat, barley and oats were grown were being reduced by climate change.
‘We have been working on a range of novel/emerging/orphan crops as we strongly believe the ones we rely on so heavily now won’t be enough when climate change really gets a grip,’ Professor Burton said.
Plant scientist Professor Rachel Burton says researching emerging crops is important as Australia adapts to climate change. PHOTO: supplied
However, getting an emerging crop to market was extremely difficult.
‘The process is like an octopus with hundreds of arms. You need to do breeding programs, feeding trials and train farmers on how to grow a new crop. This pipeline takes a lot time and resources.’
‘The most successful native food in Australia is macadamia nuts which have gone global. Kakadu plums are getting there but there are issues with protecting the trees.
‘I’d say there’s a slim chance of getting GRT to market as a food. The research is worthwhile because emerging crops are an amazing repository of genes and traits we are going to need.’
Ms Kane said there were many popular foods on the market that were only approved in the past 30 years.
‘Buckwheat was a weed in Italy, Chia was only approved as a food in Europe in 2013. Quinoa, Amaranth, Millet and Teff are new players to the food supply.’
GRT herbicides under review
The recommended herbicides for GRT: Glyphosate and Flupropanate, have not been successful at controlling GRT, let alone eradicating it.
Flupropanate is the approved herbide for GRT but is now under review. IMAGE: supplied
‘GRT is present in grazing land from Cooktown to the Northern Rivers of NSW. There are paddocks entirely covered in it where nothing else grows,’ Ms Kane said.
Questions about Glyphosate have been around for a long time and are now being raised about the impact of Flupropanate on human and environmental health.
The Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) recently prioritised ‘reconsideration’ of Flupropanate, with risk areas identified as environment, health, residues and trade.
K2 Beef farmer, Tim Scott, raises Certified Organic, grass-fed Angus-Cross cattle with wife Amber in Kandanga, south of Gympie. He’s no fan of the herbicides used on GRT.
Organic beef farmer Tim Scott is concerned about the impact of herbicides used on GRT. PHOTO: Brea Martin
Mr Scott said he was unsure if spray drift from Gympie Council contractors spraying roadside GRT potentially contaminated his land because privacy laws prevented him obtaining spray information on neighbouring public land.
‘If Flupropanate was used, it has a Permanent label meaning animals for meat and milk have to be grazed elsewhere for 14 days before going to market,’ said Mr Scott.
‘If other herbicides were used and drift occurred, this can make the grazing animals ineligible for organic markets.
‘I have set up a buffer so potential spray drift doesn’t affect certification of my grazing land.’
Farmer Tim Scott has buffer zones between his cattle and areas council has sprayed herbicides. PHOTO: Brea Martin
‘However, I believe this is a bit of a sleeping giant for our industry as the chemical seems to be cumulative and doesn’t break down in soil so each year the risk of residue grows.’
Ms Kane said as well as being potentially harmful to human and environmental health, poisoning or pulling out GRT could be wasting a potential commodity.
‘So my research question is can we find a solution to the GRT problem by eating it?’
This phase of Ms Kane’s research is due to be completed late in 2025.
PHOTO at top of story of Victoria Kane with GRT by Brea Martin
This public interest news feature was supported by the Local and Independent News Association (LINA). 
