Supporting advanced manufacturing within the agricultural sector is part of the Hodgman Liberal Government’s plan to create jobs in regional Tasmania and build a stronger economy.
That’s why we established the Caterpillar Transitional Taskforce’s Advanced Manufacturing Transition Fund in 2015 to identify and develop future manufacturing investment opportunities.
North-West Coast company Botanical Resources Australia (BRA) was one business identified by the Taskforce as having potential to grow and develop with some financial assistance.
This majority Tasmanian-owned business is a significant employer on the Coast and global leader in the production of the natural pesticide pyrethirins, which is extracted from the Australian grown pyrethrum daisy.
BRA received a grant of $25,000 from the Advanced Manufacturing Transition Fund towards a $500,000 capital upgrade to re-tool part of its refining process to help access new markets, grow the industry and support an additional 8 jobs.
The re-tooling process will allow BRA to process smaller batch lots and varied pyrethrin specifications to access new niche markets where significant growth is expected in the next decade.
This type of agricultural entrepreneurship fits is perfectly with the Tasmanian Government’s AgriVision to grow the value of agriculture tenfold to $10 billion by 2050.
Tasmania has an outstanding reputation for producing quality agricultural products, and helping companies like Botanical Resources Australia re-tool and diversify will grow the industry and support more jobs.
More Media Releases from Jeremy Rockliff
More Media Releases from the Minister for Primary Industries and Water