Sustainably Grown & Harvested Pyrethrum
As the leaders in the production of the special insecticide active ingredient made from the pyrethrum daisy, our commitment to quality and continuous improvement is the foundation of our sustainable production system.
How We Grow and Harvest Sustainable Pyrethrum
Our process for harvesting sustainable pyrethrum starts with where we grow and cultivate the pyrethrum daisy. The main growing regions for Pyrethrum, are Tasmania near Australia, and the remote southern highlands in Tanzania, East Africa. Both growing locales provide geographic diversity for sustainable production, and the ideal climatic conditions, and rich, fertile volcanic soils for the pyrethrum daisy to thrive.
Specialist plant breeders use only natural methods to continuously improve our sustainable pyrethrum plant material. They use traditional breeding methods—and not gene technology. Our breeders screen hundreds of varieties each year to select only the hardiest, disease-resistant, high-assay yielding pyrethrum plants to use for production.
In the field, we benefit from more than thirty years of crop research and development, which helps us continuously refine how to sustainably maximize productivity using the minimum of inputs.
The pyrethrum daisies are harvested once they have bloomed. They are cut, then left to dry in the sun before the dried flower heads are collected and transported to our purpose-built processing facilities. Pyrethrins are then extracted and refined in an advanced closed system as part of a process which does not alter the natural makeup of the pyrethrins in any way. The result is consistent, high-quality pyrethrins being available for technical products and there being supply reliability.
Sustainably grown, sustainable pyrethrum
Prime Land
We cultivate this special daisy in Tasmania, Australia and the remote Tanzanian southern highlands, where the pyrethrum daisy thrives in clean and pristine environments before harvesting.
Rich Soils
Rich volcanic basalt soils and sustainable farming practices ensure that the pyrethrum daisy has all it needs to grow.
Cool Climate
With cool-to-mild year-round temperatures, the pyrethrum daisy has the optimal climatic conditions for every stage in its growth cycle.
Naturally Bred
We use only natural methods to continuously improve our sustainable pyrethrum plant material. Our breeders screen hundreds of varieties each year and select only the hardiest, disease-resistant, high-assay yielding pyrethrum plants to introduce into production.
Sustainable Frams
The hardy pyrethrum daisy is very self-sufficient and is not a heavy user of water. We grow our pyrethrum daisies in rotation with other crops to maintain fertile and healthy soil.
Meet Our Farmers
Hugo Avery
‘I just never knew the insecticide came from a daisy!’
Having spent more than half his life in the dairy industry, Hugo is a relative newcomer to growing the pyrethrum daisy.
‘In dairy farming, it’s common to use pyrethrins-based insect sprays and repellents to keep flies and other insects off the cattle and out of the milking sheds. It was a real surprise to learn that the insecticide came from a daisy!’
Hugo’s farm is positioned on 40 hectares of coastal land at Table Cape. In addition to pyrethrum, Hugo grows a rotation of poppies, wheat and barley crops to keep the soil fertile and healthy.
When Hugo’s not tending to his farm or spending time with family, you can find him volunteering as a surf lifesaver for Boat Harbour SLC.
Warren Langmaid
‘No farmer likes to use synthetic chemicals on his food crops.’
Warren grows his pyrethrum daisies in rotation with vegetable crops and poppies to keep the soil fertile and healthy, but his pyrethrum daisies always get the pick of the paddocks.
‘Pyrethrum thrives when it has plenty of sunlight and good drainage so I give it the biggest and sunniest hillside on the farm. That way it doesn’t get wet feet in winter, and has maximum sunlight all year round.’
With four generations of farming in his blood, Warren is proud to be growing naturally effective insect control, and helping give farmers like him an alternative to the synthetic insecticides that are traditionally used on food crops.
Peter Langmaid
‘Pyrethrum is a hardy crop and is not a heavy water user like potatoes, onions, or carrots.’
Alongside his brother Warren, Peter has been growing pyrethrum for more than fifteen years on his property in scenic Kindred, on the north-west coast of Tasmania.
Peter says the secret is in the soil preparation. Like Warren, he grows a rotation of vegetables, poppies, and cereal crops to keep the soil fertile and always ensures his pyrethrum has good drainage.
‘Pyrethrum is a hardy crop and is not a heavy water user like potatoes, onions, or carrots. On the off chance we get a hot spring day leading into flowering I’ll get out there at first light and turn the water on – it keeps the pyrethrum daisies happy which means more flowers and more Australian Natural Pyrethrins®.’