Essential oils and plant extracts are inputs to a range of products including food flavours, pharmaceutical goods and industrial solvents. They include citrus oils, spearmint, peppermint, lavender and lavandin and eucalyptus oil.

Australia’s diverse climate and unique flora provide opportunities for new crop development and agricultural diversification. Increasing consumer interest, and a wide and growing range of applications in commercial industries has led to strong, albeit fluctuating, growth in world demand for these commodities.

Essential oils have been extracted from over 3000 plants, of which 200 to 300 are commonly traded on world markets.

The RIRDC Essential Oils and Plant Extracts program is funded by core Australian Government contributions.

Research and development is guided by an advisory committee of industry and research professionals.