Sustainable Farming Practices for Essential Oil Crops
The sustainability of an essential oil starts at the farm. Here is what responsible cultivation looks like for the crops we source.
The environmental impact of an essential oil is largely determined at the farm level. The choice of cultivation method, the use of pesticides and fertilisers, the management of water and soil, and the treatment of workers all affect the sustainability of the final product.
Integrated pest management
Integrated pest management (IPM) is an approach to pest control that minimises the use of synthetic pesticides by combining biological controls, habitat management, and targeted chemical intervention only when necessary. Many essential oil crops are well-suited to IPM because the aromatic compounds that make them valuable also deter many pests.
Soil health
The concentration of aromatic compounds in essential oil crops is influenced by soil health. Plants under stress from poor soil conditions produce different compound profiles than plants growing in healthy, well-structured soil. Practices that improve soil health, such as cover cropping, composting, and reduced tillage, can improve both the yield and the quality of essential oil crops.
Water management
Many essential oil crops are drought-tolerant, but they still require water during establishment and in dry periods. Efficient irrigation systems, such as drip irrigation, can significantly reduce water use compared to flood or overhead irrigation. In water-stressed regions, water management is a critical sustainability issue.
What we ask of our suppliers
We ask our suppliers to describe their farming practices and to provide documentation of any certifications they hold. We do not require organic certification, but we do require that suppliers can describe their pest management approach and confirm that they do not use pesticides that are banned in Australia or the European Union.