A PROPOSAL

A WAY FORWARD

Clearly, in Tasmania, given bamboo's low visibility as a 'construction material', there is a need to build a market for the non-nursery bamboo products – timber, fencing, edible shoots, etc. – when the product becomes available. Like all 'new products' the task at hand is '' SELLING THE SIZZLE'' rather than the 'product'. And, 'market building' must start NOW!! It is especially so as there is virtually no established market for 'timber bamboo' in Tasmania and only a developing market in Australia. Moreover, there are prejudiced mind sets to deal with.

With this recognised, and with a pioneering situation in hand, without a backer with 'deep pockets' it will be necessary to take the 'word-of-mouth community oriented approach' in developing a purposeful strategic marketing process for bamboo in its 2025/30 Tasmanian context.

Currently – and speculatively with no assumed priorities – that appears to be something like:
• ... Establishing TASWEGIAN BAMBOO as recognised entity in Tasmania and one that is a network of networks committed to Biological Carbon Sequestration; and

• ... Establishing the foundations for a 'Tasmanian bamboo producers cooperative'; and

• ... Establishing an association/collective for Tasmanian bamboo growers and producers working collectively as aligned advocacy groups a network of networks; and

• ... Being strategically proactive in initiating the planting of a 'proof-of-concept plantation'; and
• ... Being strategically proactive in initiating a planting aimed at 'waste-water-management'; and

• ... Being strategically proactive in initiating the planting of a network of demonstration 'Tasmanian Bamboo Gardens', verge plantings etc. to 'green' urban precincts; and

• ... Being strategically proactive in initiating cooperative relationships with placemaking professionals, design networks, arts groups, gardening groups, mens sheds etc. ;
• ... Being strategically visible and present in Social Media; and

• ... Being proactive in building a data base relative a 'Tasmanian Bamboo Industry' – physical objects, digital data and videos etc.; and

• ... Being proactive in the advocacy for developing a 'Tasmanian Bamboo Industry' with support networks.

Initially, it seems that a group of investors might well follow the exemplary precedent the business X-Hemp has set – it is not for nothing that as 'products' there are synergies between bamboo and hemp. For example, the President at the Tasmanian Hemp Association believed wholeheartedly in her product and vision. X-Hemp soon realised the enormous breadth of opportunities available to hemp, such as food, fibre, extracts, fodder, carbon – everything from farm ecology through to agriculture, and everything in between.


All of that resonates for bamboo too albeit that bamboo's advocates will most likely find things that bamboo can do better. As the adage goes ... the list of things you can and should do with bamboo is very, very long while the the list of things you cannot do, or should not do with bamboo is very, very short.

DRAFT STRATEGIC PLAN