Case Studies

ASIDA documents and shares practical case studies from Australian sesame producers, researchers and agronomists to support growers and industry stakeholders in making informed decisions about sesame production.

Katherine NT Field Trials — Comparative Varietal Trial 2023

In 2023, ASIDA and its research partners conducted comparative varietal trials at Katherine, Northern Territory, evaluating non-shattering black and white sesame lines under local growing conditions. Key findings included:

• ES312 early-maturity ideotypes showed strong performance under Katherine's tropical climate
• Non-shattering white sesame lines demonstrated commercial harvest potential
• Crop establishment was improved through targeted seedbed preparation and precision seeding
• Harvest timing proved critical — a 7–10 day harvest window was identified for optimal grain retention

Mackay QLD Grower Participatory Trial — 2022/23 Season

A farmer-led participatory trial in the Mackay region of Queensland explored sesame as a summer rotation crop in a cane farming system. Highlights included:

• Sesame established well following cane harvest with minimal soil preparation
• The crop demonstrated strong tolerance to mid-season dry periods with appropriate variety selection
• Grain quality met export grade specifications for Japanese sesame buyers
• Grower feedback identified weed management in the establishment phase as the key challenge

Kununurra WA Post-Harvest Trial — 2023

A post-harvest handling and storage trial conducted in partnership with Kimberley producers assessed on-farm storage options for sesame grain in a tropical environment. Results showed:

• Grain moisture at harvest must be below 6% for safe long-term storage
• Sealed silo storage with desiccant maintained quality over a 6-month period
• Cleaning to remove foreign material before storage was critical to avoid spoilage

ABC Landline Feature — Herb & Spice Crops in Northern Australia

An ABC Landline episode aired in June 2024 featured Australian sesame producers and researchers working to commercialise sesame in northern Australia. The episode showcased:

• On-farm sesame trials across Queensland and the Northern Territory
• Grower experiences and the agronomic challenges being addressed
• The role of ASIDA and research programs in supporting industry development

Watch the Landline episode

Share Your Story

ASIDA welcomes case study contributions from growers, agronomists and researchers. If you have a sesame production experience to share, please contact us.