ASIDA
Australian Sesame Industry Development Association

The Australian Sesame Industry

Sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) is one of the world's oldest cultivated oilseed crops, valued for its nutritious grain, high-quality oil and wide range of food and industrial applications. Australia is positioned to become a significant producer of premium sesame, leveraging its clean agricultural environment, modern farming infrastructure and proximity to key Asian export markets.

Industry Overview

The Australian sesame industry is an emerging sector with strong growth potential. Commercial production is currently concentrated in tropical and subtropical regions of northern Australia — primarily Queensland, the Northern Territory and Western Australia's Kimberley region — where the warm, wet summers provide suitable growing conditions for sesame.

Australian sesame production has been growing steadily, driven by increasing global demand for clean, traceable and sustainably produced sesame grain. Australian producers are well placed to access premium markets in Japan, South Korea, the Middle East and South-East Asia, where food safety, traceability and quality assurance are highly valued.

Key Growing Regions

  • Queensland: Burdekin, Mackay, Capricornia and South-East Queensland — the largest and most established sesame production area in Australia, with a growing base of commercial producers and strong research support from CQU.
  • Northern Territory: Katherine and Darwin regions — tropical conditions well-suited to sesame, with active variety trials and grower participatory programs supported by ASIDA and NT DPIR.
  • Western Australia (Kimberley): Kununurra and surrounding areas — an emerging sesame production zone with strong irrigation infrastructure and proximity to Asian export markets.
  • New South Wales: Emerging interest from producers in the north-west and north coast regions, with trials underway to assess sesame as a summer rotation crop.

Market Opportunity

Global sesame demand is growing, driven by health-conscious consumers, the expanding food manufacturing sector and strong demand for sesame oil. Key global markets include:

  • Japan: Australia's primary target export market; Japan imports large volumes of high-quality, food-safe sesame annually and values Australian provenance.
  • South Korea: A significant importer of white and black sesame for food manufacturing, retail and food service.
  • Middle East & North Africa: Major consumers of sesame for tahini, halvah and other traditional foods.
  • South-East Asia: Growing markets for sesame oil and sesame-containing food products.
  • Domestic: An emerging domestic market for Australian-grown sesame in health foods, bakery, food service and functional food ingredients.

Sesame Varieties

Australian research programs have focused on developing and identifying sesame varieties suited to local conditions. Key variety types include:

  • White sesame: The dominant variety type for export markets, particularly Japan and South Korea. Non-shattering white sesame lines are a key focus of current breeding programs.
  • Black sesame: Growing demand in Asian markets and health food sectors. Some early-maturity black sesame lines show promise for Australian conditions.
  • Non-shattering types: A critical trait for Australian production systems. Non-shattering sesame allows conventional harvest with standard grain headers, dramatically reducing harvest losses and labour requirements.
  • Early maturity ideotypes: New ES312 and related lines developed for northern Australia's growing season, enabling earlier harvest before wet season onset.

Supply Chain

The Australian sesame supply chain is developing rapidly. Key steps from farm to market include:

  1. Production: Paddock establishment, crop management and harvest by Australian growers, supported by agronomic guidance from ASIDA-accredited agronomists.
  2. Post-harvest: Drying, cleaning and grading to Machine Dressed Sesame (MDS) standard. Cleaning equipment and services are becoming increasingly available in key production regions.
  3. Storage: On-farm or commercial storage in sealed, dry conditions to maintain grain quality for domestic or export sale.
  4. Trading: Sale to domestic traders or direct export to international buyers. ASIDA is actively building trade relationships and market intelligence to connect Australian producers with buyers.
  5. Processing: Australian sesame is used for sesame oil production, tahini, roasted sesame seed, sesame flour and other value-added products.

Industry Governance

The Australian sesame industry is represented by ASIDA — the Australian Sesame Industry Development Association — a non-profit organisation established in 2021. ASIDA represents all sectors of the sesame supply chain and works to coordinate research, development, extension and market development activities for the benefit of the entire industry.

ASIDA operates under its Constitution and Code of Ethics, and is supported by an elected Board of Directors drawn from across the industry. The organisation collaborates with AgriFutures Australia, CRCNA, QDAF and other funding bodies to deliver industry development programs.

Get Involved

Whether you are a grower, agronomist, trader, processor, researcher or investor, ASIDA welcomes your involvement in the Australian sesame industry.

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