The Australian pyrethrum industry is backing a new research project that aims to shorten the growing time of pyrethrum to fit within an annual cropping cycle.

Research Fellow at the Tasmanian Institute of Agriculture, Dr Tamieka Pearce, has been awarded an Australian Research Council Early Career Industry Fellowship worth almost $500,000 to lead this research.

“This research project will generate new knowledge on the genetic and physiological drivers that enable early pyrethrum flowering, with the goal of reducing the 18-month crop cycle to 10-months. Outcomes will include new protocols and germplasm for breeding and managing short cycle crops for optimum yield,” Dr Pearce said.

This project builds on a foundation of research between Botanical Resources Tasmania and the University of Tasmania which began in the 1980s with development of the first commercial pyrethrum varieties.

“This is an important project for the pyrethrum industry. It will allow us to develop a production model that works better for farmer and increases the predictability and reliability of the crop. Our experience shows there is a wide range of natural variation in our plants which can be harnessed with better understanding of the crop physiology and genetics,” Dr Kristin Groom, R&D Manager for Agriculture at Botanical Resources Australia, said.

The Early Career Industry Fellowships scheme aims to build innovation in the research and industry sectors and facilitate the adoption, translation and commercialisation of Australian research over time.

Dr Pearce was also awarded $250,000 through the Tasmanian Government’s Agricultural Development Fund for a second collaborative research project with Botanical Resources Australia.