ASIDA
Australian Sesame Industry Development Association

About ASIDA

Who We Are

About ASIDA

The Australian Sesame Industry Development Association (ASIDA) is a non-profit organisation representing all sectors of the Australian sesame industry. Its members include researchers, plant breeders, seed suppliers, agronomists, grain traders, seed graders and packers, value added processors, import / export firms and representatives from a range of government agencies and private sector enterprises.

ASIDA is committed to developing effective networks and linkages between key stakeholders within the industry and to ensuring that industry efforts and resources are maximised and aligned for the common good of the sesame industry.

Through the dedicated efforts of the Association's committees, ASIDA has a strong focus on ensuring:

  • Food safety and hygiene standards are maintained at a high level across the whole industry
  • Quality assurance systems are adopted that improve traceability of our produce and build market confidence in Australian sesame locally and internationally
  • Superior white and black sesame cultivars are developed that will achieve higher returns for producers and also meet overseas consumer demand
  • Sesame growers, traders and added value processors and their advisors have ready access to the best available production, marketing and industry information

The ASIDA's industry development programs include:

ASIDA members operate under the ASIDA Code of Ethics. Members in each category are willing to assist you grow and market high quality sesame seeds and added value products for domestic and international buyers and consumers.

Governance

Board of ASIDA

Chairman
Mr. Daniel Weinstock
Secretary
Dr. Surya Bhattarai
Growers' Representative
Mr. Peter Foxwell

For board enquiries, email info@asida.com.au or contact us.

Governance Documents

Corporate Overview

Strategic Plan 2020–25
ASIDA Constitution
ASIDA Code of Ethics
ASIDA Bylaws
Board of Governance Charter
Industry certified sesame agronomists
Research & Funding

Projects and Relationships

QDAF Commercial Supply Chain
Development of a commercial supply chain for Australian grown sesame — QDAF funded project to ASIDA.
Sesame Central (CQU)
AgriFutures funded project to CQU — national sesame program of research.
Great North Spice (GNS)
CRCNA funded project to CQU — sesame research for northern Australia.
Timeline

Historical Highlights of ASIDA

ASIDA has supported many world-first developments and continues to uphold the 'clean and safe' high quality standards that will open new markets as an import replacement and as an export of grain and added value products across Asia, the Middle East and the Indian subcontinent.

2020
Sesame Industry Reference Board (IRB) initiated by Mr Tony Matchett
2021
First ASIDA meeting held in Cairns, Chaired by Mr Tony Matchett
2021
Australian Sesame Strategic RD&E Plan (2021–2026) published by AgriFutures Emerging Industries
2022
New Chair of ASIDA, Mr Daniel Weinstock
2022
Australian sesame industry presentation (Daniel Weinstock and Lewis Hunter) at World Sesame Conference Dubai, September 2022
2023
Great North Spice (GNS) project including sesame support by CRCNA research for northern Australia
2023
National Sesame Program of Research (Sesame Central) led by CQU supported by AgriFutures
2024
First field trials of new early maturity sesame ideotypes (ES312) for northern Australia