1940s – Pyrethrum first planted in Australia in 1940s
1983 – Pyrethrum trials first planted in Tasmania by Commonwealth Industrial Gases (CIG), a subsidiary of British Oxygen Company (BOC). Crop established from tissue culture plants
1986 – Ian Folder appointed Operations Manager to establish pyrethrum industry in Tasmania. First commercial plantings established from vegetative splits
1987 – First plots harvested with prototype wet harvester
1989 – CIG continues to invest to commercialise the fledgling industry. Increased production to 800 hectares. Begun exporting to North America
1990 – Robust dry harvesting method developed that significantly reduced harvesting cost and utilised the sun's energy to field dry flowers in situ, replacing energy intense kiln drying of flowers
1992 – Trials commenced on using new improved high yielding varieties capable of germinating from seed, a breakthrough that eventually resulted in improved crop productivity
1994 – Research trial commenced into new refining technology
1995 – In less than 10 years, Australia had grown to become the second largest pyrethrum producer in the world
1996 – Botanical Resources Australia founded after management buyout of CIG’s pyrethrum assets, led by Ian Folder AM. BRA entered strategic long-term supply agreement with MGK and other US based companies
1997 – Move to seed based production in the field significantly reduced production costs from AU $2400 p/ha to <$500 p/ha
2000 – Continued investment in production area and scale up of proprietary extraction and refining technology increased output of Pyrethrins technical products to meet demand from major customers in North America and Europe
2002 – Continued expansion necessitated a change in strategy - BRA dramatically increased commercial farming operations to complement strategic alliances with long-term growers
2006 – S.C. Johnson launched automatic metered aerosol powered by Australian grown Pyrethrins for the household market. Marked for global rollout
2007-2008 – Major supply partnerships forged with S.C. Johnson and BASF – Pyrethrins now BASF's second largest active ingredient in the U.S. structural pest control market
2009 – Tasmania is now the world's largest growing area for the special pyrethrum daisy and BRA the single largest producer of Pyrethrins technical products. Major exports to North America and Europe
2012 – BRA started producing energy dense bio-fuel from pyrethrum green waste. Used to power operations of major Tasmanian agri-businesses
2014 – Strategic investment in production of animal stock feed for the dairy market
2015 – BRA is focused on demand generation activities in emerging markets Asia, Latin America, and Middle East and North Africa
2016 – BRA launches the Australian Natural Pyrethrins consumer brand program in partnership with the world’s No.1 household insecticides company
2017 - Sumitomo Chemical acquired Botanical Resources Australia and its affiliated companies (the BRA group), making BRA a consolidated subsidiary of Sumitomo Chemical group
2020 – BRA’s Seed Department moved into a purpose-built processing facility enabling an improved focus on seed performance and related business opportunities
2021 – Botanical Resources Australia achieves 25 years of operation
2022 – Faber Park opened as a dedicated pharmaceutical pyrethrins production facility
2023 - ISO Certification for Quality (ISO 9001:2015), Safety (ISO 45001:2018) and Environment (ISO 14001:2015)
