The Nambucca-born chef, who is the country’s only hatted Aboriginal kitchen king, features in a new grassroots documentary, Restoring Earth, where he puts his case for regenerating native forest rather than cutting it down.

“Native foods are something that a lot of chefs would die to get a punnet of,” Clayton said.

“Farmers are clearing land and often they don’t even know what they have got … this is one of the reasons why I believe more education is needed about native foods and their value.”

The documentary, which will soon be touring rural NSW, looks at the link between healthy native vegetation and healthy food and highlights the conflict between the old native vegetation laws and the controversial new draft Biodiversity Conservation Act.

The draft bill, due to be released for public consultation next month, has some fearing a return to broad scale land clearing.

The documentary features farmers who say there is an excellent business opportunity to be tapped with the growing demand for native products that also enhance the natural environment.

There will be a screening tomorrow night, Tuesday, in Byron Bay – for tickets go to https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/restoring-earth-tickets-23205282625