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Rural Industries Research & Development Corporation
The Australian Lavender Industry - A Review of Oil Production and Related Products by Lee Peterson Serve-Ag Pty Ltd
May 2002
RIRDC Publication No 02/052 RIRDC Project No: SAG-2A
Interest in the growing of lavender in Australia has increased significantly over the last 5 years. The temperate climatic requirement for growing Lavandula species has resulted in plantings in all states of Australia but the most interest appears to be in Victoria and southern New South Wales.
The majority of lavender plantings target the craft and aromatherapy applications and in most cases are allied with tea rooms, bed and breakfast operations or open gardens and nurseries. The main use for lavender by these growers is dried flowers followed by fresh flowers and then oil production forming the minor component of their business. Other products include lavender honey, lavender based body care products and therapeutic formulations containing lavender oil.
The Lavender Growers Association (TALGA) is now a well established body. TALGA convenes regular conferences inviting Australian and overseas researchers to present the latest developments in lavender production and applications of lavender products. The association faces the major challenge of representing many growers from varying climatic regions, with ranging end products, with different market focus and of varying scale of operational size. Australian Lavender Industries provides a different focus for lavender growers with commercial training and workshop presentations.
Virtually all Australian lavender plantings contain L. angustifolia, but in conjunction with a range of other lavenders such as L. intermedia (Lavandin) and other species such as L. allardii.
The variation in scale of oil production operations is considerable with the majority of lavender growers producing less than 10 kg of oil per annum, approximately 50 - 60 growers. At the other end of the scale is the operation of Bridestowe Estate in Tasmania producing 1200 kg of oil per annum. Bridestowe Estate produces oil solely from L. angustifolia and is world recognised for its high quality oil. This oil quality has been produced for many decades and is complex, both organoleptically and chemically, owing to a range of genotypes selected specifically to match in quality lavender oil of the French type. As this oil has been the major Australian product for a long time, the Bridestowe Estate oil properties have been used to elaborate the Australian Standard for lavender oil (L.angustifolia). In the past only international standards have been in place, Standards Australia is presently publicising new standards for Australia that will be in alignment with the ISO Standards for lavender. Four standards will be set, one each for the oil from L.
angustifolia, Lavandin Abrial, Lavandin Grosso and Spike lavenders (L. latifolia).
For future marketing, nomenclature of Lavandula oils will have to be promoted correctly and accurately. This provides a potential opportunity to market these oils separately and differentiate between the oils for specific markets based on their specific applications.
Owing to the range of species grown as well as the different cultivars of L.angustifolia, the majority of oil produced by the large number of small growers does not meet the Australian standard for L.angustifolia. Many producers in fact produce a blend of oils reflecting the range of species and cultivars that they have planted. Interest in pure L.angustifolia oil is increasing owing to a strong world demand for high quality lavender oil and higher prices than lavandin oil.
There is a growing demand for all of the lavender range of oil types - L. allardii and lavandin oils are sought after by the aromatherapy market as is L.angustifolia oil for their therapeutic applications.
The high incidence of incorrect identification and naming of species and varieties within the genus Lavandula further complicates the issue of standards. Many nurseries are incorrectly identifying various lavender species and labeling plants with only generic terms such as "English" or "French".
For prospective oil producers to source the correct cultivars, especially of L.angustifolia, this situation is totally unacceptable.
In respect to the development of the industry associations, there is a definite requirement for an industry appointed representative or executive officer to be employed by TALGA. Whilst the present volunteer committee is highly active and enthusiastic to further the development of the lavender industry in Australia, there exists a need for TALGA to be professionally managed and represented to industry and government bodies.
The most significant area of research required is in regard to breeding and selection to further improve the genetic basis for lavender production. To enable successful oil production in other regions of Australia considerable emphasis will have to be placed on the selection and potential breeding of lavenders suitable for these regions to achieve quality standards and also economic yields.
Expertise in the cultivation, harvesting and extraction of lavender varies greatly throughout the lavender growing community. There is a requirement for Australian focused research and development to optimise cultivation techniques aiming at maximising both oil production and quality.
Many participants in this review have raised the concept of a national register of Lavandula.
Although not strictly research, such a facility is required for the industry to have a source of certified cultivars that will perform as the grower intended from their selection.
Further research and development of the therapeutic properties of lavender oil is also a high priority for the industry.
The lavender industry must first clearly define the market directions and priorities that it wishes to concentrate on as this will determine the research priorities for the future. Present market indications are that the therapeutic market sector will continue to grow and the traditional perfumery market will remain relatively static. Consequently the production, varietal and application issues relating to the therapeutic market segment will be the highest priority for the lavender industry to research in the future. All these factors will need to be examined in conjunction with each other to produce products acceptable to the market.
Currently oil produced for the therapeutic market must conform to the BP standard as products are mainly marketed into the aromatherapy segment. This presents difficulties for producers and distributors as not all oils have a BP standard eg: L. Allardii. Also there is an increasing demand for the hydrosols derived from all lavender varieties.
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