Cellulose Valley is unique in bringing together the skills of the clinician, the pharmacognosist, the phytochemist, the plant geneticist, the primary producer, the practitioner, and the environmentalist on a single project. The synergies lead to outcomes that few other groups in the world can achieve.

Currently, Cellulose Valley researchers in the Centre for Plant Conservation Genetics, the Australian Centre for Complementary Medicine, Education and Research, the Centre for Phytochemistry and the Centre for Waste and Water Management are exploring and developing new plant products for medicinal and other therapeutic uses as well as for environmental sustainability. The ultimate goal is to come up with herbs and other plants that can be grown by local farmers to further the burgeoning herb industry in NSW.

Primary Producers in the Cellulose Valley region will benefit from the competitive edge that the Cellulose Valley research teams can offer. Connections and partnerships with the leading manufacturers and developers of herbal medicines, hemp and therapeutic foods will, in future, provide opportunities for synergies with local producers. Advocacy and support for the increased regulation, safety and efficacy of herbal medicines will ensure that herbs produced in the Cellulose Valley region are of the highest quality.

Cellulose Valley Region

The Cellulose Valley region includes growers from Tweed Heads in the north to Taree in the south and west to the New England Tablelands. Growers manage farms as small as ¼ acre to broad acre farms of more than 100 acres and produce herbs for medicinal and culinary uses in either fresh or dried form for manufacturing into essential oils, tablets, tinctures, capsules, ointments, creams, soaps, lotions, teas and more.

The region is already known for its established industries in tea tree, lemon myrtle and echinacea. Other growers in the Cellulose Valley region cultivate organic produce, organic coffee and organic macadamias.

The Cellulose Valley region is home to many industry organisations such as:
Organic Herb Growers of Australia (OHGA)
Tweed Richmond Organic Producers Organisation (TROPO)
Australian Herb Growers Industry Association (AHGIA)
Biodynamic Farming & Gardening Association of Australia (BFGAA)

Cellulose Valley is also home to the Northern Rivers Herb Festival a unique local festival held annually in Lismore during the month of August to celebrate and showcase herbs, herb education, natural plant products industries and regional cuisine. Growers from the Cellulose Valley region showcase their produce and natural plant products at the Herb Festival's Herb Bazaar. Members of the Cellulose Valley team, including internationally and nationally renowned scientists, educators, growers and natural health practitioners offer free public seminars on the latest in herbal medicine research and education, organic farming, sustainable living and more.

The Cellulose Valley project supports/encourages all organic or sustainable natural products.

Cellulose Valley Newsletter & Events

Cellulose Valley seeks articles or events related to herb/bushfoods/organic produce growing activities in the Cellulose Valley region for our quarterly newsletter.

You can have an event relevant to growers listed in our calendar, we also consider publishing in the CV newsletter any informative article you may have.