Beyond Scale: Native Grains and Indigenous-Led Food Systems with Jacob Birch
Wed Feb 04 2026
While there is a growing recognition of the importance of indigenous knowledge in agriculture, all too-often, First Nations people are being asked to fit in with an established model. What if we flipped the script to create food systems that are led by indigenous principles?
That’s what Jacob Birch is aiming to do in reawakening a native grains industry in Australia. He’s a proud Gamilaraay man, scholar, Churchill Fellow, and entrepreneur who founded Yaamarra & Yarral, a wholesaler of ancient grains and retailer of stone milled flour.
In this episode, Jacob shares his journey into native grains, beginning with biodiversity and landscape restoration, and expanding into food, culture, and economic sovereignty. He explains why native grasses are keystone species for Australia’s ecosystems, how Indigenous Australians managed grain systems for tens of thousands of years, and why these histories, including bread-making, are still largely absent from mainstream narratives.
In his Churchill Fellowship, Jacob draws on lessons from First Nations communities in North America, exploring what Indigenous-led food systems can look like when the goal is not export-driven scale, but healthy communities, country, and self-determined economic development.
Sarah and Jacob discuss:
The nutritional value of native grains and their role in climate resilience and food sovereignty.Why post–farm gate ownership is crucial for First Nations people.How subsidies could potentially support indigenous-led enterprises in food and agriculture.The realities of building a native grains industry; from land access to challenges in processing.Useful Links:
Jacob Birch, Churchill Fellowship reportGrasslands Documentary Jacob Birch researcher profileModernising Indigenous Native Grains Processing | AgriFutures AustraliaWhite Earth NationFond du Lac Band of Lake Superior ChippewaNative Farm Bill CoalitionTribal Elder Food Box - Feeding America Eastern WisconsinFirst Nations Australians in Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry - DAFF2030 Roadmap - National Farmers' FederationFor more information and resources, visit our website.
The information in this post is not investment advice or a recommendation to invest. It is general information only and does not take into account your investment objectives, financial situation or needs. Before making an investment decision you should seek financial advice from a professional financial adviser. Whilst we believe the information is correct, we provide no warranty of accuracy, reliability or completeness.
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While there is a growing recognition of the importance of indigenous knowledge in agriculture, all too-often, First Nations people are being asked to fit in with an established model. What if we flipped the script to create food systems that are led by indigenous principles? That’s what Jacob Birch is aiming to do in reawakening a native grains industry in Australia. He’s a proud Gamilaraay man, scholar, Churchill Fellow, and entrepreneur who founded Yaamarra & Yarral, a wholesaler of ancient grains and retailer of stone milled flour. In this episode, Jacob shares his journey into native grains, beginning with biodiversity and landscape restoration, and expanding into food, culture, and economic sovereignty. He explains why native grasses are keystone species for Australia’s ecosystems, how Indigenous Australians managed grain systems for tens of thousands of years, and why these histories, including bread-making, are still largely absent from mainstream narratives. In his Churchill Fellowship, Jacob draws on lessons from First Nations communities in North America, exploring what Indigenous-led food systems can look like when the goal is not export-driven scale, but healthy communities, country, and self-determined economic development. Sarah and Jacob discuss: The nutritional value of native grains and their role in climate resilience and food sovereignty.Why post–farm gate ownership is crucial for First Nations people.How subsidies could potentially support indigenous-led enterprises in food and agriculture.The realities of building a native grains industry; from land access to challenges in processing.Useful Links: Jacob Birch, Churchill Fellowship reportGrasslands Documentary Jacob Birch researcher profileModernising Indigenous Native Grains Processing | AgriFutures AustraliaWhite Earth NationFond du Lac Band of Lake Superior ChippewaNative Farm Bill CoalitionTribal Elder Food Box - Feeding America Eastern WisconsinFirst Nations Australians in Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry - DAFF2030 Roadmap - National Farmers' FederationFor more information and resources, visit our website. The information in this post is not investment advice or a recommendation to invest. It is general information only and does not take into account your investment objectives, financial situation or needs. Before making an investment decision you should seek financial advice from a professional financial adviser. Whilst we believe the information is correct, we provide no warranty of accuracy, reliability or completeness.