ChemCentre is undertaking research in collaboration with the Australian Sandalwood Network (ASN), which aims to value-add to the Australian Sandalwood (Santalum spicatum) plantation industry.
Australian Sandalwood is a unique native tree crop which is cultivated in the WA Wheatbelt Region for its high value heartwood, oils, leaf and nut products for export markets.
Sandalwood oil and nut oil are used in many premium perfumes, wood and medicated products. As a certified premier ingredient, premium Australian Sandalwood oil has attracted a commercial value of up to $1500.00/kg.
ChemCentre is developing independent quality testing and certification capability for Australian Sandalwood products for secondary manufacturers and international distributors. Certification directly adds value to a product and places it into an informed buyer, higher value market space. It is also essential to meet Goods Manufacturing Production (GMP) requirements for the Therapeutic Goods Association (TGA) certified balm product created.
Specific attributes of plantation grown Australian Sandalwood essential oils, nut oils and other plantation products will be certified, ensuring perfumed and medicinal products created by local companies can maintain consistency and the industry can continue to build its reputation in perfume houses and personal care industries worldwide.
ChemCentre’s research supports a structured and certified development pathway to maximise total product utilisation for plantation grown Australian Sandalwood while reinforcing the grower-distributor-buyer relationship. The project focuses on four key areas:
- Product certification
- Improved production efficiency
- New products
- Investment attraction
By delivering certified analytical chemistry to support production improvement, product certification and optimised secondary manufacture, ChemCentre’s research work aims to result in an increased range, value and volume of sandalwood products produced on an annual basis and enhance investment in the Australian Sandalwood industry.
The research is being supported with funding from the Western Australian sandalwood industry and the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) through their Export Competitiveness Grant scheme for industry.
ChemCentre is a collaborator in the Fight Food Waste CRC.