| |
Is There a Future for the Medicinal and Aromatic Plants Industry on the Prairies?
Herbs for Your Health
Herbs, Homeopathy and Health
Trends in the Production and Marketing of Medicinal Plants in North America
Terry Willard, Ph.D, President
Wild Rose College of Natural Healing (Calgary)
and Coastal Mountain College of Healing Arts (Vancouver)
Presented at the Prairie Medicinal and Aromatic Plants Conference - Olds, Alberta - March 3-5, 1996
There are many more patients using unconventional therapy than most people think. In 1991, one in three (34%) of the adult population in the United States went to some form of unconventional therapy:
| Conventional: | 388 million visits |
| Unconventional: | 425 million visits |
(New England Journal of Medicine, January 28, 1993, p. 246) |
A poll done by CNN/New York Times (January 5, 1993) shows the following:
| Questions | % Yes |
| Should MD's be open to alternatives? | 81.5% |
| Can diet prevent certain ailments? | 89.5% |
| Have you shopped in a health food store? | 42.0% |
| Would you consider an alternative practitioner if conventional medicine failed? | 62.0% |
| Have you tried unconventional therapies? | 30.0% |
| Would you go back to an alternative healer? | 84.0% |
Historically, we find heroic medicine with antibiotics, advanced diagnostic techniques, strong pharmaceutical, and advanced medical appliances, all of which we have come to appreciate to service our emergency health care needs.
Natural Healers were suppressed and ignored in the Western world for a short period of time (1946-1975). It can be seen as an interface between the natural & vibrational world and the social fabric. Due to this, herbalists have had the role of balancing on one side the need for a clean environment and on the other side to deal with human suffering. Some see this as a path of connecting the planet (Gaia Mother) to people.
In the past we can see allopathic medicine as hierarchical with: Academics/Politicians, Hospitals, Specialists, GPs, rural doctors, nurses and other health care providers as the flow of command and medical information. In present times many people are more educated and seek information as a fluid network. This gives them a desire to own their own body, not always deferring responsibility to other people. With an intelligent population base having access to CAN, mass media, and the Information Highway, we are seeing a change in how people perceive health care.
If you wear out your body, then where are you going to live?
As we crush time and space in our everyday lives, intelligent people use practitioners and counsellors as part of their information net. They often consult with body workers, acupuncturists, etc. as treatment modalities for a tuneup. They go to workshops to aid in tuning their perception. They put more emphasis on food, herbs and rituals to help them connect with the planet (Gaia nature).
Size of the Herbal Industry
No one knows for sure the size of the industry, because there are so many sectors to consider; Estimates run from 1 - 10 billion US dollars annually in North America. We know that some companies are doing more than 750 million annually in North America. We know that some companies are doing more than 750 million annually themselves and herbal cough drop doing 1.1 billion alone. German pharmacies sold more than two billion last year. This leaves the worldestimates to be in the trillions.
Where do Herbs Grow?
The largest growing areas in North America are the Oregon/Washington Coast and the US North East. Other areas around the world include Northern Europe, the Chinese Mountains and Northern provinces. It is interesting to find that the rough environments are most suitable for growing the strongest medicinal herbs: eg. root crops need little irrigation; colder temperatures often produce higher chemical' yield. The prairie provinces are very suitable for growing many medicinal plants such as: Echinacea, Astragalus, Mints, Valerian, Feverfew, oil-producing plants, possibly Goldenseal, Uva Ursi and a multitude of wild plants.
Specialty can really add to saleability and price of a crop. Niches like organic, stronger biotype, and guaranteed potency are all worth considering.
Value Added Production
Organic brings higher prices and acceptance. Organic herbs are usually valued at twice the price as non-organic. Presently demand heavily out-strides production, eg. Echinacea crops now being purchased for the 1998 season. Trend toward Guaranteed Potency where the buyer is looking for botanicals with above specific amounts of marker chemicals, eg., Echinacea with 4% total Phenolic Compounds and 15% polysaccharides. Testing should be done by independent labs.
Value Added Product
By processing the herb, higher prices can be obtained. Processing can include cutting/sifted, or grinding, tinctures, ointments, tea blends, potpourri's, aromatic oils. The most important rule is: don't put all you eggs in one basket. You should split the production between several short term and long term botanicals: eg. root crops are a 3-5 year investment, some leaf herbs are annuals. Split sales niches, eg., 25% value-added, 25% small quantities, and 50% bulk. Move into the area slowly with lots of crop testing, to know your plant for your land. Herb farming is really intensive gardening even though it can be quite mechanized.
Trends in Marketing
- Farmers group together into "co-ops"
- Attached to a label (to pre-sell crop)
- Specialty micro brewer' type operation
The Future Looks Quite Good
No one knows the future, but the herbal industry is on a power curve upward. The size of the market is continually doubling. The Prairie Provinces are in the perfect position to be the Medicine Cabinet for the world.
Medicinal and Aromatic Plants in Manitoba: Trends in Industry Development
Jack Moes Ph.D., P.Ag., New Crop Agronomist
Crop Development Section - Manitoba Agriculture
Brandon, Manitoba
Presented at the Prairie Medicinal and Aromatic Plants Conference - Olds, Alberta - March 3-5, 1996
How quickly things change. With the loss of the Crow benefit last summer, many of us would have predicted a very intense interest in the alternatives to wheat. Well, wheat is up, and the interest in oilseed and special crops is down. Even so, there are a few who are intensely interested in some of the crops we are gathered here to discuss. I'll give you an overview of what is currently happening in Manitoba in regards to aromatic and medicinal plants.
Spice Crops
Caraway. Caraway seed is used in baking, cheeses, and other foods. Most years there will be a few thousand acres of production on the Prairies, between 1,000 and 2,000 in Manitoba. Contracts to grow caraway seed are typically difficult to find, but right now a processor in Western Manitoba is actively soliciting growers for caraway seed--this is literally an unheard of situation. Caraway is a biennial species, meaning it doesn't set seed until its second year. It is often sown with a nurse crop to provide a harvest of something in the establishment year. By late June in the second season, the crop is generally well into flowering, and by early August it is typically ready for harvest.
Coriander. Like caraway, there have typically been 1,000 and 2,000 acres of coriander in Manitoba. Coriander is a favoured nurse crop for caraway. While the pricing is not nearly as attractive as caraway, the caraway processor I spoke of is offering to take coriander from those growers who wish to use it as a nurse crop. We have attempted to grow coriander under zero-tillage, with good success. One of the main limitations is that the only broad spectrum herbicide registered for coriander and caraway is Edge (ethyl fluralin), technically a preplant incorporated herbicide. However, zero-tillers in Manitoba have been experimenting with surface-applied (non-incorporated) Edge in other crops, with favourable results. I expect that some experimentation with surface-applied Edge in caraway and coriander will be taking place in due course.
Fenugreek. Here's something relatively new to the Prairies--Fenugreek is used as a component of curry powders. Although we seem to be able to grow it quite well, the market opportunity for Prairie fenugreek production appears to be small, and we have had no commercial production attempts in Manitoba--I keep hoping that some processor will exploit some of the non-spice potential of fenugreek--extracting its dietary fibre and other components.
Cumin. Cumin seed has not yet been grown commercially in Canada, but appears to have some potential. It is used for flavouring meats and stews, and like coriander and fenugreek, is a component of curry powder. It looks like there is good demand for cumin seed, and the price seems favourable, too. However, the plants are small, leading to a challenging (potentially frustrating?) harvest; and good stands have been difficult to obtain. Also, flowers are sensitive to high temperature, resulting in poor seed set. So the real potential of this as a new crop for Manitoba is still unknown.
Medicinal/Aromatic Herbs
Now we are in for something completely different. The crops we have talked about so far are grown on a scale of quarter sections and not quarter acres, using the typical line of full-sized tractors, seeders, sprayers, swathers, and combines. The crops we are going to talk about next require a bit of a paradigm shift--different production, different scale, different management, and different marketing. In fact, it's helpful to have an attitude like the one expressed on my friend's hat: "Of all the things I've lost, I miss my mind the most." If this is how your neighbours regard you, you are probably on the leading edge of innovation.
Essential Oil Crops. Sometimes mints are grown for their leaves, but what gives the leaves their flavour is the essential oils contained in the plant tissue. There are a number of species that are grown for extraction of these essential oils, including mint and dill for flavouring oils, and monarda and lavender for fragrant oils. There is commercial mint production on the Prairies.
These crops are typically cut with a mower, then chopped into wagons using a forage harvester. Now these are not your ordinary forage wagons - these are called distillation wagons, and when they are full, they are hauled to a distillation plant, sealed up, and connected to a source of steam. The steam releases the oil from the plant tissue and carries the oil out of a collector. All this happens on the farm--it's the oil that is sold off the farm. As you can imagine, there is a rather high capital investment required to set up this kind of operation, and a characteristic of essential oil markets is that prices are very volatile--not for the faint-hearted! There is no commercial mint production in Manitoba (that I know of)--but in one attempt to establish mint, the result was winterkill. This patch had poor snowcover, and all the rootstocks were killed. The would-be grower was lucky and had not yet invested in any distillation apparatus, so the learning experience was relatively inexpensive. Overwintering is not impossible mind you--it is necessary to take care in field selection, mulching, and prefreeze up irrigation, if available.
A number of years ago, there was an attempt made to establish a distillation facility in south central Manitoba to extract dill oil from the plant tissue. The effort went bust due to low dill oil prices just when production came on line. One of the characteristics of essential oil markets is price volatility. It seems to me that it might be prudent to set up distillation plants on the basis of perhaps two or three or more essential oil crops rather than just one.
Ginseng. The mystical ginseng root. Used for millennia by the Chinese as a medicinal and all-round feel-good substance--today there is growing clinical support for some of the traditional claims. At $35 - $50/lb for dried root, this seems like a very lucrative crop, and it has been grown successfully in Manitoba--though I should tell you that up until a few years ago, the so-called "experts" would have insisted it couldn't be done--but it is not for the faint of heart. An acre of ginseng might gross $80,000 to $100,000, but it will take a great deal of management attention and labour, and that acre will take a good $40,000 in expenses by the time it is harvested. Seed is very expensive, the plant is a shady-forest species so it needs to be shaded by a structure. Weed control is largely by hoeing and pulling, and multiple sprayings are required to keep diseases in check. While there have been many inquiries, there hasn't been a huge increase in the number of commercial scale growers in Manitoba. Our first grower's experience was encouraging enough to him that he has sown more, this time under polypropylene shadecloth instead of wood lath. I have also dealt with a couple of people interested in the possibility of reducing the cost of production (but also the per acre yield) by growing ginseng under the shade of a shelterbelt. I have not heard about anyone successfully following through on this.
Echinacea. Echinacea angustafolia, or Purple Coneflower is native to the southern Prairies. The medicinal properties of Echinacea have been utilized historically by natives and pioneers used to treat everything from snakebite to saddle sores, but recently there has been clinical evidence to show Echinacea can stimulate the immune system. This is driving increased interest in Europe and North America. It takes at least three years to achieve a marketable sized root, and cultivation has several challenges--like sourcing seed, getting it established, and marketing it. But there is growing interest in the possibilities of cultivating this herb.
Typical of many native species, Echinacea seed has a high level of dormancy, and establishment for cultivation purposes typically involves both stratification and establishing seedlings in pots or flats, then transplanting successfully established seedlings. Stratification is accomplished by storing the seeds in moist soil at 4°-5°C for a month or two. We made the inadvertent discovery that by leaving the seed in the stratification medium (moist soil) in a warm environment for 24 hours or so, to pre-germinate, we could then sow the seed directly in the field and achieve a high level of establishment.
Senega root. I regularly get inquiries about the possibility of cultivating Senega Root--for which we have a long history of wildcrafting in Manitoba. I know little about this, but Dr. Norm Kenkel and a graduate student in the Department of Botany at the University of Manitoba have been examining the ecology of Senega root, and have worked out a technique involving both stratification and scarification to achieve a high level of germination. The next step hopefully is to attempt to establish it in the field, though they have not yet been able to pursue this.
Borage. As a fresh salad herb young borage leaves are known for their cucumber-like flavour. But a different interest in borage has sprung up in recent years, with the discovery that the oil in borage seed is high in a compound called gamma-linolenic acid, or GLA for short. This oil has a recognized medicinal value for people suffering from aliments such as diabetes, stress, aging, and PMS. A company in Saskatoon extracts borage oil and contracts up to about 3,000 acres of production annually, some of which is in Manitoba. Contracts are apparently hard to get, but obligatory if you want to market your crop.
Besides marketing, the other big challenge in growing borage for seed is that it starts flowering in July and doesn't quit until you swath it. If the seeds would just stay put, no problem. But they don't--as soon as a seed is mature, it becomes very prone to dropping off the plant. In practice, it is difficult to harvest more than about 20-30% of the seed that is there. This has some people dreaming of giant vacuum cleaners to harvest in several passes, before the seeds actually drop.
Hemp. While we are on the subject of gamma linolenic acid, I'd like to mention hemp. There's been an incredible amount of hype and interest in hemp in the last year or so. We had an opportunity last season to begin evaluating hemp to see if the hype has any substance to it. The main claim to fame of the hemp plant is the fibre in the stalk. The stem in cross-section shows a green "bark" containing very long, strong fibres. These are the fibres that have been used for untold centuries to make clothing, rope, twine, and paper. The whitish core, called "hurds" is very light and corky, but contains some very short fibres.
Hemp seed is actually a good source of oil that has been used historically for applications like paints and varnishes, as well as for edible purposes. We have had some of our hemp seed evaluated for the quality of its oil and here are the highlights:
- High in gamma-linolenic acid--at 2-3%, high compared with seed oils typically--also high in linolenic acid--about 50-55%;
- High in tocopherols, natural antioxidants which not only counter the instability of oil high in polyunsaturates, also recognized as nutritionally valuable in their own right;
- Relatively high in sterols (though not unusually so compared with other plant oils) sterols block cholesterol absorption--if consistently high, extraction of the sterols as a separate pharmaceutical component could be warranted.
All of these things suggest that hemp seed oil could be a relatively high-value specialty oil.
Horseradish. A Winnipeg company contracts a small but growing acreage for the purpose of extracting a high-value minor component: horseradish peroxidase, used in medical and scientific test kits. I think this is an interesting model to exploit for other crops--extracting higher value components to add value.
Herbs. While commercial culinary herb production is very small in Manitoba, a couple of interesting initiatives include a cooperative herb growers group that is trying to identify good commercial opportunities from among the more than one hundred herbs in their collective experience, and a greenhouse enterprise growing fresh herbs for restaurants in Winnipeg.
Garlic. You may not readily think of garlic as a herb, but it certainly is...an aromatic plant which makes for aromatic people! --with both culinary and medicinal applications. There are several growers in Manitoba experimenting with suitable planting material and methods.
Peppers. Chili peppers. Spice? Herb? Vegetable? Does it matter? Market opportunity exists for Manitoba grown hot peppers, which must be sown indoors and transplanted out in spring, and there is some serious interest in commercial scale production.
Irrigated Production Possibilities. Finally, while it is mostly potatoes and some vegetables that are under Manitoba's irrigation rigs, there is considerable interest in identifying alternatives for irrigated production, which may include herbs--both medicinal and culinary--and other aromatic plants. Considerable energy is being spent in this effort, particularly with the leadership of staff at the Manitoba Crop Diversification Centre.
Although aromatic and medicinal plants are not new to Manitoba, an aromatic and medicinal plants industry is really in its infancy. However, interest is taking off and some innovative enterprises are underway.
Herb Research and Industry Development in Saskatchewan
Dr. Branka Barl
Herb Research Centre, University of Saskatchewan
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
Presented at the Prairie Medicinal and Aromatic Plants Conference - Olds, Alberta - March 3-5, 1996
A recent resurgence of interest in alternative health care and natural products medicine has resulted in an increased market demand for medicinal herbs around the globe, and particularly in North America. The growth of North American medicinal herb industry has been conservatively estimated at 12% (Grunwals, 1995), 8% in Canada (Mater Engineering, Ltd. 1993). Herbs in variety of forms (teas, tinctures, tablets, capsules, ointments) became widely available commercially as over-the-counter pharmaceutical products and/or dietary supplements. Its annual sale on the world market reached more than $4 billion. Some of the most widely used herbs in Europe and North America are: Echinacea (Echinacea spp.), for enhancement of the general immune system and prevention of colds and flu; milk thistle (Sylibum marianum) for protection of the liver from dietary and environmental toxins; gingko (Ginkgo biloba) for improvement of the peripheral blood circulation important to elderly; garlic (Allium sativum) and ginkgo for reduction of risk factors associated with cardiovascular disease.
Demand for herbs and herb derived products for variety of other applications other than phytomedicinals, such as food flavourings, cosmetic and personal hygiene products (in fragrances, creams, lotions), industrial chemicals (insecticides, specialty lubricants), feed ingredients, etc., is also on the rise. As a result of such market trends it became rather obvious that herbs deserve serious consideration as potential alternative cash crops for Saskatchewan.
From a production standpoint it is important to make distinction between herbs and spices. Spices are grown on large acreage with use of farm equipment typically applied in production of grain and oilseed crops; they are commonly grown for seeds. Herb production, however, requires much hand labour and specialized equipment. It has been estimated that hand labour accounts for 50% of the total production and marketing cost of herbs. As a result, herbs are usually produced on small scale and harvested for leaf, root, or flower; rarely for the seed.
In Saskatchewan spice production and research started about six years ago while herb research was initiated over the last three years in response to industry development. It is needless to say that at the present time, many questions ranging from herb production to marketing oriented ones, still remain to be answered. The latest information on herb and spice production in Saskatchewan, as per the two following tables, indicated that acreage under spices is about five times higher from the acreage under herbs. Main herb crops are mint and borage. Scotch spearmint, an aromatic plant used as a source of essential oil widely applied in food and cosmetic industry, was first grown in Outlook area under irrigation in 1994. Borage was introduced four years ago as a source of seed oil rich in gamma-linolenic acid; it is being market by the Bioriginal Food and Science Corp. as a dietary supplement. Borage is well adapted to prairie conditions. Despite the fact that only 30 - 40% of the seeds can be harvested with the existing harvesting equipment, borage is considered an attractive and profitable medicinal plant.
Table 1: Spice Production in Saskatchewan in 1995*
| Crop | Acreage |
| Coriander | 12400 |
| Caraway | 6700 |
| Dill | 2400 |
| Cumin |  |
* Ray McVicar, personal communication
Table 2: Herb Production in Saskatchewan in 1995*
| Crop | Acreage |
| Borage | 3000 |
| Mint | 1300 |
| Fenugreek | 300 |
| Ginseng | 20 |
| Echinacea | 10 |
Valerian
Yarrow
Milk thistle
Angelica, etc. | |
* Ray McVicar, Doug Elsasser and others, personal communication
Although Saskatchewan is considered as one of the most desirable areas to cultivate medicinal herbs in North America because of the climate, clean environment and wealth of experience in agriculture, commercial production is obviously still minimal. This could be explained partially by the uncertainties over the selection of medicinal herbs to cultivate, and also over competitiveness on the international market.
Growers of herbs and spices in Saskatchewan are organized in the Saskatchewan Herb and Spice Association (SHSA), which had played an important role in having herbs and spices recognized as alternative specialty crops. Over the last four years membership to the SHSA has increased six times; it presently has 240 members. During the same period, more than 10 companies entered the field of processing, and/or production and/or marketing of herbs; e.g., Bioriginal Food and Science Corp. and Fytokem Products Inc. in Saskatoon; Canadian Aromatics Oils in Outlook; Springbank Herb Farm Inc. in Speers; Northern Essentials in Prince Albert; Husband's Food in Wawota; Assiniboia Herb & Spice Co-op in Assiniboia. Two companies, Prairie Plant Systems in Saskatoon and Mircogro International in Biggar, are vegetatively propagating medicinal and aromatic plants. Detailed listing of herb companies in Saskatchewan is provided in Appendix I.
Herb research in Saskatchewan is being carried out at the University of Saskatchewan (U of S) by the Crop Development Centre (CDC), Department of Crop Science and Plant Ecology, and the Saskatchewan Herb Research Centre (SHRC), Department of Horticulture Science. Selected research activities at CDC include: production and quality of selected spice crops (caraway, coriander, dill, cumin and anise); enhancement of seed germination of wild plants in Saskatchewan; adaption of Plantago ovata (psylium) to Saskatchewan.
Applied production oriented research is being conducted at the Saskatchewan Irrigation Development Centre (SIDC) in Outlook (mint and ginseng), and in PFRA Shelterbelt Centre in Indian Head (ginseng). In response to great interest in ginseng production on the prairies, SIDC and PFRA established demonstration plots of American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius) three and two years ago, respectively. Based on the information generated up to date, it appears possible to grow ginseng in Saskatchewan; however, economic feasibility has not yet been established. Problems with ginseng production are: the risk of overwintering, establishment of market channels, high investment cost, and the rapid expansion of ginseng production in Ontario and British Columbia (Clark, 1993). Numerous short-term projects with narrower scope are also being conducted by individual growers.
There are several companies in Saskatchewan presently conducting medicinal and aromatic plants related research. Bioriginal Food & Science Corp. is a processor and marketer of value-added, plant-based products for the health and nutritional market. Their main product lines are high-potency GLA preparations and extensive line of essential fatty acid oils. Bioriginal is constantly exploring new plant-based products with nutritional and/or medicinal properties. Fytokem Products Inc. focuses its efforts on production of phytochemicals or plant extracts with therapeutic, cosmetic or nutritional properties, and on sale of wide range of fine phytochemicals suitable for research purposes. New Leaf Biotechnology Inc. is involved in in vitro production of plant cell cultures, which are to be used as a source of natural products; the main line of activities is directed into in vitro production of sanguinirines.
Being in charge for the SHRC, I am undoubtedly better informed about the SHRC's research activities than those carried out at other research groups in Saskatchewan. For this sole reason I am in position to offer more specific information on our own research projects. Main activities include:
- development of information pertinent to production, quality, processing, and marketing of herbs of economic importance to Saskatchewan and transferring that information to the herb industry. This activity is aimed at assisting establishment and growth of the herb industry in the province. We have developed a publication entitled Saskatchewan Herb Database which contains information on 26 herbs; it is being updated and expanded to include other species with good potential for commercialization.
- quality evaluation of locally grown herbs of commercial importance through chemical f ingerprinting and development of assays that could be used for standardization of botanical extracts. Extensive work on identifying and quantifying mark er compounds in both intact plant parts and in commercial preparations (capsules, tinctures, etc.) of Echinacea, Milk Thistle, Senega root and valerian has been conducted. Numerous essential oil bearing plants, cultivated and wildcrafted in Saskatchewan, have been fingerprinted.
Other activities include: study of several indigenous Saskatchewan plants as potential sources of extracts and natural compounds with immunostimulating activity, use of plant extracts for biological pest control, development of novel herb-based food and feed products aimed at increasing value of raw materials and developing new niche markets. For further inquiries please contact Branka Barl at fax: 306-966-8106, Internet: barlb@duke.usask.ca.
In closing, let me say that the herb and spice industry is an emerging one in Saskatchewan. With the support of the provincial government and the private corporations, the infrastructure for this promising industry is slowly being built. However, more resources and combined efforts in agronomic and phytochemical studies are required. It is particularly true for the successful development of the medicinal plant industry, which depends to a great extent on the quality (concentration of active compounds) and not only on the yield of raw material. This conference may present a good opportunity to consider combining and coordinating research efforts across the prairies to enable faster development of the herb and spice industry in all three prairie provinces.
Appendix I: Herb Companies in Saskatchewan, January 1996
Alpine Health International
Attn: Brad Seward and/or Richard Muth
4910 - 49 Street
Lloydminster, SK S9V 0M3
Tel: 306-825-9849
Fax: 306-825-6555
Assiniboia Extractions Ltd.
P. O. Box 1089
Assiniboia, SK S0H 0B0
Tel/Fax: 306-642-3499
Beld Enterprizes
Attn: Brian Neufeld
Box 1268
Preeceville, SK S0A 3B0
Tel: 306-547-4631
Bioriginal Food & Science Co.
Attn: Rick Kulow
#1-411 Downey Rd.
Saskatoon, SK S7N 4L8
Tel: 306-975-1166
Fax 306-242-3829
Canadian Aromatic Oils Inc.
Attn: J. Blair Miller
1910 - 4th Street East
Saskatoon, SK S7H 0B1
Tel: 306-955-9617
Fax: 306-955-9632
Chartier Greenhouse
Attn: Georgie, Rusty, Michelle
1245 Avenue 0 South
Saskatoon SK S7M 2T5
Tel: 306-242-1171
Dandilee Agro Inc.
Attn: Brian Petracek
Box 74
Gerald, SK S0A 1B0
Tel/Fax: 306-745-2510
Prairie Garlic Growers
Attn: Larry Balion
143 Laurentian Drive
Saskatoon, SK S7H 4R7
Tel: 306-955-7189
Fax: 306-955-2755
Prairie Mountain
Attn: Nora Stewart
Box 273
Arcola, SK S0C 0G0
Tel: 306-455-2513
BRock Haven Industries
Box 911
Assiniboia, SK S0J 0B0
Tel/Fax: 306-642-3485
Fytokem Products Inc.
Attn: Warren Steck
222-111 Research Drive
Saskatoon, SK S7N 3R2
Tel: 306-955-1974
Fax: 306-374-6247
Helga's Herbs
Box 6
Aberdeen, SK S0K 0A0
Tel: 306-253-4781
Husband's Foods
Attn: John &/or Carol Husband
P. O. Box 32
Wawota, SK S0G 5A0
Tel/Fax: 306-739-2900
Microgro International
Attn: Paul Fowler
Box 1090
Biggar, SK S0K 0M0
Tel: 306-948-5480
Fax: 306-948-5481
Mumm's Sprouting Seeds
Hazleridge Farm
Box 268
Shellbrook, SK S0J 2E0
Tel: 306-747-2935
Fax: 306-747-3618
Northern Essentials
Attn: Len Donais
Box 15, 1010 Riverside Drive
Prince Albert, SK S6V 5R5
Tel: 306-764-4499
Fax: 306-763-4344
Parkland Botanicals
Attn: Doug Elsasser
Box 175
Togo, SK S0A 4E0
Tel/Fax: 306-597-2146
Prairie Green Herbs
Attn: Sherry Kalmakoff
Box 1287
Kamsack, SK S0A 1S0
Tel/Fax: 306-542-3334
Prairie Plant Systems Inc.
Attn: Brent Zettl
108-106 Research Drive
Saskatoon, SK S7N 3R3
Tel: 306-975-1207
Fax: 306-975-0440
Springbank Herb Farm Ltd.
P. O. Box 60
Speers, SK S0M 2V0
Tel: 306-246-4712
Fax: 306-246-4600
Appendix II: Herbs of economic importance to Saskatchewan
- Bearberry/Kinnickinnick (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi)
- Calamus root (Acorus Calamus)
- Chickweed (Stellaria media)
- Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale)
- Echinacea (Echinacea angustifolia, E. Purpurea, E. Pallida)
- Elecampane (Inula helenium)
- Evening primrose (Oenothera biennis L.)
- German chamomile (matricaria chamomilla)
- Ginseng: Oriental (Panax ginseng)
- Ginseng American (P. Quinquefolius)
- Ginseng Siberian (Eleutherococcus senticosus)
- Goldenseal (Hydrastis canadensis)
- Horsetail (Equisetum arvense L.)
- Licorice root (Glycyrrhiza glabra)
- Milk thistle (Silybum marianum)
- Mint (Metna spp.)
- Pitcher plant (Sarracenia spp.)
- Plantain (Plantago spp.)
- Red-osier dogwood (Cornus stalonifera)
- Sarsaparilla (Aralia nudicaulis)
- Seneca root (Polygala senega)
- Stemless ladyslipper (Cyprepidium acaule)
- Stinging nettle (Urtica dioica)
- Valerian root (Valeriana officinalis)
- Yarrow (Achillea millefolium)
- Feverfew (Tanacetum parthenium)
Special Crops Production Trends in Alberta
Dr. Refe Gaudiel, Research Scientist
Crop Diversification Centre South
Brooks, Alberta
Presented at the Prairie Medicinal and Aromatic Plants Conference - Olds, Alberta - March 3-5, 1996
Crop diversification is one of the major efforts by Alberta Agriculture, Food and Rural Development, in its strategy towards sustainable growth of the Agricultural economy. In recent years, the contribution of the "Specialty" or "Alternate" crops to the agricultural industry has been increasing. This is especially true in years when cereal demand and grain prices are low. In recent years, however, there appears to be a realization that these new crops may play an important and more permanent part in a farmer's management scheme. This presentation will look at some of these crops, excluding the pulse crops which have been addressed by the previous speaker, with regard to its adaptability and production potential in Alberta.
Herbs and Spices
This commodity group consists of numerous plant species with a variety of uses and market options. Generally, the demand and consumption of these products have been relatively constant or increasing. The following table shows the U.S. imports of condiments, seasoning and flavoring materials from 1991 to 1994.
U.S. Imports of Condiments, Seasoning, and Flavoring Materials
| 1991 | 1992 | 1993 | 1994 |
| Production ( 000 metric tons) |
| Imports | 243 | 254 | 250 | 286 |
| Exports | 37 | 36 | 41 | 51 |
| Value (million $) |
| Imports | 395 | 399 | 373 | 432 |
| Exports | 85 | 88 | 100 | 108 |
The Canadian spice imports in 1993 and 1994 are shown in the following table:
Canadian Imports of Selected Seed Spices
| 1993 | 1994 |
| Spice | (kg) | ( 000 $) | (kg) | ( 000 $) |
Anise seed
Coriander seed
Cumin seed
Caraway seed | 152,000
148,000
340,000
109,000 | 409
257
931
185 | 186,000
96,000
308,000
142,000 | 423
150
716
357 |
Culinary Crops
The culinary herbs are usually sold either in its fresh or dried form. Some culinary crops that can be grown in Alberta are: coriander or cilantro, different types of basil, chives, dill, parsley, oregano, savory, tarragon, thyme, the mints, sweet marjoram, and sage.
Coriander or Cilantro. Both these plants belong to the same species. Coriander, however, is fast bolting, early to mature and produces larger seeds. Cilantro is slow bolting and the whole tops of the young plants are used. Seed production is possible, particularly in the southern part of the province. Weed control is important because of the relatively open canopy of the crop. The cilantro tops are in demand and used in flavoring and garnishing upscale cuisines in recent years. Essential oils may be extracted from the whole cilantro plant. Just like other leafy vegetables, much hand labor is needed to prepare fresh cilantro for market.
Parsley. When grown as an annual crop, it can be grown throughout Alberta. It can be either transplanted or seeded directly to the field. Two distinct types are available - the curled type is usually used fresh in garnishings while the plain leaf type is used to produce the dried parsley flakes sold in stores.
Dill. For culinary purposes, the whole tops of the young plants can be cut and used as garnishing or flavoring. Certain varieties appear to be more bushy and stay longer that way than others. Dill can be grown throughout Alberta. It can be seeded directly in the field. When left in the field, it will tend to reseed itself and could become a weed.
Sweet Marjoram. Can be grown in Alberta as an annual. It will not overwinter. Appears to respond well to transplanting rather than direct seeding. Being a small plant, it is relatively hard to handle mechanically during harvest.
Tarragon. Two types are sold commercially. The French type is preferred over the Russian type. The French type has a better flavor, does not produce any seed, thus can only be propagated by root division or cuttings. It is a winter-hardy perennial that can be grown throughout Alberta. Besides using the leaves of the plant for culinary purposes, essential oil can also be extracted from the whole plant tops.
Oregano. There are various kinds of oregano in the market which include different plant species. The Greek and Mexican types of oregano plants are preferred by the commercial market but are not winter hardy. The common type of oregano, with purple colored flowers, and commonly grown in Alberta, is winter hardy. Unfortunately, this winter-hardy plant does not have satisfactory aroma and flavor.
Sage. This perennial plant can be started from seed sown directly in the field. It is winter hardy, although some winter-kill may occur in some bad years. The broadleaf garden sage commonly used in Alberta is not as aromatic as those grown in the Mediterranean area. Soils with high lime content appear to produce better products. Essential oil can be extracted from this crop and can be managed easily using conventional mechanical equipments.
Chives. This perennial plant can be started from division or from seed sown directly in the field. It is winter hardy throughout Alberta. The tops of the plants can be sold directly as a fresh product or freeze-dried for longer storage life. It is possible to harvest the plants several times during the growing season.
Basil. This annual plant has so many different kinds available in the market. The one commonly used is the sweet basil. Several forms and color of sweet basil types are available. Other types of basil that can be grown are: anise or licorice, lemon, cinnamon, cumin, and spicy. It can be directly seeded in the field. This plant is very susceptible to frost.
Seed Spice Crops
The advantage of spice crops grown for their seed is that ordinary grain equipment can generally be used to produce the crop. It can be grown in large fields without the need for much manual labor. Spice crops that may be grown in Alberta for their seeds are: caraway, coriander, fenugreek, dill, anise, and cumin.
Caraway. Caraway is a biennial crop that can be grown throughout Alberta. A nurse crop is usually planted with caraway during the establishment year in order to obtain some return in the seeded land during the first year. If, however, the caraway crop is set back in growth during the first year by aggressive competition from the nurse crop or poor weather conditions, the caraway plant may flower only in the third or fourth year upon reaching a certain size. Selection of less-shattering varieties is important to minimize yield losses and obtain darker colored mature seeds. Weeds can be controlled with good management practices and available chemical sprays.
Coriander. Coriander is the same plant species as cilantro but the seed is the product harvested. Coriander seeds are larger and the plant is shorter and earlier to mature compared to the cilantro type. It can be planted with ordinary grain drills. It is better adapted to the warmer, longer growing season areas of southern Alberta. The plant does not compete well with weeds because of its open canopy. However, chemical sprays are available for weed control. The western Canadian prairie has become one of the large producers of coriander seed in the world.
Fenugreek. This is a legume plant that can be very indeterminate in its growing habit particularly in an environment of high fertility and moisture. It appears to be best adapted in the brown soil zone of southern Alberta. Perhaps it can be grown in the dark brown soils in stubble and in areas where probability of moisture stress occurs after the pods have started to develop. The market prefers seeds that are well matured with a good yellow color. Damaged or immature seeds turn brown and dark colored.
Dill. Dill can be grown in almost all parts of Alberta. This annual plant can be seeded directly in the field using ordinary grain drills. However, the use of row crop seeders that can seed dill in wide rows will make cultivation and weed control easier. Besides harvesting the seed, the whole plant tops can be harvested for its essential oil. The timing of swathing and threshing the crop, particularly during hot periods, is important because of potential shattering losses. Essential oil can also be extracted from the seed. Generally, the demand and price of dill seed has not been as attractive as the other spice crops.
Anise. This crop can be successfully grown in Alberta but appears to be more adapted to the southern regions where there is a longer growing season. A good plant stand is important particularly because seed viability appears to be generally low. Weed control is a concern because the plants are small and open in canopy and does not compete well with weeds.
Cumin. Although the demand and price of cumin seed appear to be attractive, it is hard to produce this crop. The plants are small and short thus mechanical harvesting can be a problem. The flowers and developing seeds are sensitive to high temperatures and most often results in poor seed set. Perhaps newer plant types and production in the cooler areas of northern Alberta may help alleviate the problem.
Health - Related Crops
There are a number of crops that are being grown and sold for the purpose of improving the human health. Some of the plants that can be grown in Alberta are: borage, mints, echinacea, chamomile and ginseng.
Borage. The seed of the borage plant contains oil that is rich in gamma-linolenic acid (GLA), which is the main component sought after by the health industry. Borage as an annual can be planted and handled directly in the field with ordinary grain equipment. The primary concern with this crop is seed shattering after the seed reaches maturity; particularly because this plant flowers progressively and indeterminately. Low yields and marketing of this can be a problem. It is adapted to almost all areas of Alberta but northern regions are preferred because of the belief that oil produced in northern areas have higher GLA content.
Mint. Mint leaves are usually marketed and used as teas. Different types of mints are used but peppermint is most common. Peppermint or spearmint plants can be successfully grown throughout Alberta, particularly when the plants are covered in the winter to ensure winter survival. Manual labor may be needed to separate the mint leaves and prepare the product for market.
Echinacea. This plant, native to North America, appears to have a strong demand in recent years for medicinal purposes. There are two main species used. The Echinacea purpurea and the Echinacea angustifolia. The whole tops, but particularly the roots, are the product of commerce. Roots are ready for harvest when they are about three years old. Although seeds can be sown directly in the field, starting the plants in the greenhouse and transplanting them out in the field appear to be more desirable.
Chamomile. The annual variety or German chamomile appears to be the one commonly sold and used. The dried flower is used for teas or extracted for its essential oil. It is adapted to all parts of Alberta and can be started by seed directly in the field. Seeding should be very shallow for successful establishment. The plant will reseed itself and can be a weed problem. Mechanical harvesting of the flowers may be one of the important operations in producing this crop.
Ginseng. The anticipated high return of this crop has sparked lots of interest with potential growers in Alberta. Three or four year old roots are the product of commerce. Adaptability of ginseng is still a concern in Alberta because of our adverse weather conditions. Winter kill of the plants can occur in years with very cold temperatures and little snow cover. Commercial yield levels are not yet established for long-term production. Yields have to be competitive with other ginseng growing areas. Management practices, particularly with application of mulches, fertility practices, plant stand establishment, and disease control may have to be better defined for Alberta. The future market demand and prices are uncertain 4-5 years from now, particularly when cost of establishment of this crop is high. There is, however, cautious optimism that commercial ginseng production is possible in Alberta.
Carbohydrate Crops
Quinoa. This is a broadleaf plant, related to Lambsquarter, that produces grain which is used similar to that of cereal grains. Its nutritional quality appears to be better than the traditional grains because of higher protein content and better amino acid balance. At present, the health food market appears to be the outlet for this crop. It is most adapted to the cool temperatures of high altitude areas (7000 feet) but some varieties are adapted to lower altitudes. Production of this crop in Alberta has been with mixed success. Establishment of a good stand, weed control, and products with low saponin content are important considerations in the production of this crop. At present, most of the Quinoa produced is sold in the organic food markets.
Grain Amaranth. This ancient grain crop is used similar to that of Quinoa, as a pseudo-cereal. Its nutritional quality is also similar to Quinoa. There are several varieties of grain amaranth and some appear to be early enough to grow in southern Alberta. As a relative of the redroot pigweed, the plant is susceptible to frost and seeds will shatter if left too long in the plant. Stand establishment and weed control is still a concern in the production of this crop. Market outlet of the grain is similar to that of Quinoa--in health food stores particularly as an organically grown food.
Oilseed Crops
Sunflower. Most of the sunflower crops grown in Alberta (most grown in the irrigated areas of southern Alberta) is the confectionery type that is used in snack foods and salad bars. However, the development of an open-pollinated, early maturing and short oilseed sunflower, collectively called "SUNOLA," opens up the possibility of growing sunflower in central and northern Alberta. Although sunflower oil quality tends to get better as they are planted northward, the disease consideration and return to the farmer relative to other crops will affect its potential production in central and northern Alberta.
Safflower. This high-quality oil crop is best adapted to the dry, long-growing season of southern Alberta because of its relatively late maturity. The main varieties at present are best suited for the birdseed market although the newer ones have higher oil content that can also be marketed for oil extraction. Certain diseases like Alternaria and Sclerotinia can drastically affect yield.
Other Crops
Stevia. This is a relatively new crop that has been introduced to develop a sweetener product. The active sweetening component found in the leaves of this plant called "stevioside" is believed to be 100-300 times sweeter than sucrose. Field plot tests in Alberta showed the plants to grow slowly and produce leaf yield lower than those grown in Ontario or British Columbia. Its commercial production potential will depend ultimately on the leaf yield of this crop in Alberta relative to other areas.
Hemp. Low-THC hemp for fiber and pulp are at present tested in two locations in Alberta. Permits for their planting were obtained from the Federal Bureau of Dangerous Drugs in Ottawa. Production potential will depend upon the revision of the Narcotics Drug Act, to allow growing low-THC hemp for commercial or industrial purposes, and the economics of growing this crop relative to other sources of fiber and pulp for traditional or niche market products. Varietal adaptation and proper management practices will affect pulp and fiber yields which in turn will affect its economics of production.
Essential Oil Production in Alberta
Dr. Refe Gaudiel, Research Scientist
Crop Diversification Centre South
Brooks, Alberta
Presented at the Prairie Medicinal and Aromatic Plants Conference - Olds, Alberta - March 3-5, 1996
It is now possible to stumble upon fields of mint and dill in southern Alberta. However, the commercial production of essential oils in Alberta is relatively small and still in its infancy. This volatile oil, which is derived from natural plant products and imparts an aroma distinctly unique to a particular plant, is used for flavouring food, soft drinks, chewing gum, medicine, and in perfumes and cosmetics. The growth of the flavor and fragrance industry in the United States is forecasted to increase annually and the essential oil portion of this industry is expected to increase by 10% annually in the next 5 years. Alberta producers can take advantage of this opportunity because of a generally lower production cost, less competition from other crops currently grown in the area, and the relatively cheap freight cost of the product to potential markets.
History of Development
From the early 1970's to the mid-80's, small plots of various herbs and spices, including mints, were established at the Alberta Special Crops and Horticultural Research Center at Brooks. The purpose of these plots were for demonstration and evaluation of the adaptability and performance of these crops in Alberta. Observations from these plots provided valuable preliminary data on the adaptability and growth habit of a wide variety of aromatic plant species.
In 1987, with funding support from the Farming for the Future program, more intensive trials were started to determine the adaptability, yield, and quality of various herbs and spices including essential oil crops. Also, grower interest led to the establishment of 0.4 acres of monarda and strip planting of a number of other aromatic crops. This type of monarda plant, developed by the Agriculture Canada Research Station in Morden, produced oil that was rich in geraniol. Geraniol is an alcoholic terpene derivative used by the flavor and perfume industry.
In 1988, the monarda acreage established at Carmangay was increased and a new planting was made at Bow Island. During this time, it was apparent that winter kill can be a problem for newly planted monarda. Test planting and small scale distillation of different crops using a laboratory clevenger-type distillation unit and a semi-commercial portable unit, borrowed from Agriculture Canada at Morden, were used to extract the essential oil and estimate yield. Test planting of fall-planted peppermint was not successful.
In 1989, the monarda acreage again increased and a commercial steam distillation unit was set up by the newly formed PANOIL Company to extract the essential oil. At this time, spearmint was also planted at Bow Island. This was the first time that commercial distillation of monarda and spearmint occurred in Alberta. Other crops such as dill, sweet basil, coriander and caraway were also field tested and numerous crops were planted in large plots and distilled using a pilot distillation unit that approximated results obtained from the large commercial unit.
In 1990, monarda planting was again increased for a total of more than 100 acres. Spearmint acreage was increased and peppermint was again field tested. Field test strips of other crops were also made to learn how to handle and manage these crops in commercial scale. This was the first time that some return was realized from selling the oil.
In 1991, monarda was no longer planted, but spearmint was increased to a few hundred acres and peppermint to slightly over a 100 acres. Also, an essential oil rich in thymol was extracted and produced commercially from a species of monarda. An acre of dill was also tested at Brooks and commercially distilled. This was the year that the first commercial return from essential oil was made in Alberta. This was the year that the "eagle" had landed in Alberta. It remained to be seen whether or not the "eagle" would stay to roost or fly away.
In 1992, there was a reduction of monarda acreage while the acreage of spearmint increased and peppermint remained constant. At this time, another distillation unit was established at Carmangay to provide adequate and convenient extraction of the essential oil from nearby fields. Poor weather limited the yield potential of the crop.
In 1993, the monarda acreage was further reduced while the spearmint and peppermint acreage continued to increase. At this time, plant stand of mint fields were still generally less than optimum but improving. A commercial planting of a few hundred acres of dill was made for the first time in Alberta. The poor weather conditions resulted in poor yields and quality of dill oil.
In 1994, the monarda plantings were abandoned while the mints continued to increase in acreage. Dill was again planted. This was the first time that almost all mint fields had optimum plant stand and gave a good indication of the commercial potential of mint production in Alberta. Dill, although damaged by hail early in the season, also showed good potential in yield and quality.
This year, after about seven years since the start of seriously developing this industry from scratch, Alberta has more than 3000 acres of essential oil crops with a gross farm value of more than $3 million.
Research and Devleopment Efforts
A number of parties contributed greatly to the development of the essential oil industry in Alberta. The presence of the market as represented by the interest of the French company Robertet, the extension and research efforts by crop specialists from Alberta Agriculture, the financial support from Farming for the Future and Alberta Agriculture for research and developmental activities and the growers who took the risk and overcame problems encountered in field production, helped develop the essential oil industry in Alberta.
Most of the research efforts conducted by the Alberta Special Crops and Horticultural Research Center at Brooks, focused on the adaptation of a wide variety of crops, the agronomics and management of a number of potential crops, varietal development, and on the procedures in extracting oil from the different plants and their parts. These research activities parallelled in a "fast-track" mode with the developmental activities occurring in the field to provide needed local practical information.
Equipment and Facilities for Essential Oil Extraction
Steam Distillation Unit
| Boiler | To generate high pressure dry steam used in vaporizing and extracting the oil. Cost depends upon size of the boiler. Allocate approximately 100 hp for every stall used (or tub being distilled). A new 200 hp boiler may cost approximately $40,000 while a 400 hp may cost approximately $70,000. |
| Tubs | These are the mobile tubs that are brought to the field, filled up with chopped plant material and then brought back to the distillation building. It contains headers and steam lines at its floor where steam is passed and dispersed throughout the tub. Depending upon size - approximately $15,000-$20,000 each. |
| Condenser | Condenses the steam and the oil vapours coming out of the tub. The vertical condenser is now commonly used. Approximately $2000 each. |
| Receiver | Receives the condensate or liquefied water vapour and oil coming out from the condenser. It also makes it easy to separate the oil (which usually floats) from the water. Approximately $600 each. |
A distillation unit with 4 stalls can process 400-500 acres of essential oil crops.
Site preparation (water, gas, drainage, power needs) and plumbing, sensors, fittings, etc., will be needed to complete the whole distillation systems.
Field Production Equipment
In addition to standard farm equipments such as cultivators, harrows, sprayers, fertilizer applicators, swather, forage pickup/chopper, tractors and trucks, a mint digger and planter is needed to produce a mint crop. The digger is used to dig the stolons from the mother plants for planting by the mint planter. Each piece of equipment costs approximately $20,000. An acre of mint stock can plant approximately 5-10 acres of new land.
Production Concerns
One of the primary concerns in the production of any perennial crop is the assurance of winter survival and a healthy plant stand at the start of the growing season. Mints can easily winterkill particularly in years where very cold temperatures occur and there is little or no snow cover. Our studies have indicated that severe damage can occur if peppermint stolon is subjected to about -12°C, scotch spearmint at about -14°C and monarda at about -21°C. Certain management practices that will help prevent exposure to these temperatures is necessary.
Prevention of diseases such as verticilium wilt, particularly with peppermint, can be made by using stock plants that are certified to be disease free. Diseases like powdery mildew and rust do affect the mints and monarda but can be controlled by good management practices and chemical sprays.
Weed control is very important because certain weeds impart certain odours to the essential oil that can lead to the downgrading or rejection of the oil by the buyer. Chemical and mechanical weed control is available to enable producers to efficiently produce the mint, monarda, and dill crops. Cost effective weed control is very important in the development of a new essential oil crop.
Quality of the oil being produced is very important because a deviation from the norm may affect marketing of the product. Quality is influenced by the growing season environment, and by the procedures and management followed during production, harvesting, and extraction of the crop.
Other Potential Essential Oil Crops
Other crops that can be grown in Alberta and might have potential for essential oil production are: Anise-Hyssop, Hyssop, different types of monardas, sage, tarragon, and even annuals such as basil, coriander, and summer savoury. For these crops, the availability of markets is very important before large commercial planting is made.
Yield and Estimated Oil Recovery
The following table shows approximate essential oil yields and the percent of oil that may be recovered from the dry matter of different crops.
Approximate Yield and % Recovery
| Crop | Yield
(kg/ha) | Oil Recovery
% (v/dry wt.) |
Monarda
Mint
Basil
Dill
Hyssop
Anise-Hyssop
Tarragon
Summer Savory
Sage | 20 - 80
25 - 80
10 - 20
40 - 100
10 - 15
20 - 35
40 - 60
25 - 40
40 - 70 | 1.0 - 1.5
1.5 - 2.0
0.1 - 0.5
1.0 - 1.5
0.2 - 0.3
0.6 - 0.7
1.5 - 2.0
0.4 - 0.5
1.0 - 1.2 |
Prices fluctuate quite a bit. For example, mint oil prices may vary from $22 to $40/kg. Dill oil may range from $13 to $22/kg.
Market and Demand
The following tables shows the amount of peppermint and spearmint produced in the United States and those imported to the United States from 1990-1994.
| Peppermint | Spearmint |
| U.S. | Imports (%)* | U.S. | Imports (%) |
Production (MT)
1990
1992
1994 |
3153
3349
3372
|
16 (0.5)
41 (1.2)
305 (9.0)
|
1163
1651
1004
|
149 (13)
240 (15)
426 (42)
|
Value (million $)
| | | | |
1990
1992
1994 | 96.62
64.72
108.24 | 0.29 (0.3)
0.65 (0.7)
5.62 (5.2) | 38.2
46.6
27.3 | 2.7 (7)
3.2 (7)
5.2 (19) |
* as % of U.S. production
The above table indicates the increasing amount of peppermint and spearmint oil that is imported to the U.S. relative to local production. This makes local producers more concerned regarding market share and may have implications regarding potential trade barriers.
The following tables show the amount of spearmint and peppermint imported to the U.S. from the 3 main countries from 1990-1994.
| Spearmint Oil Imports to the U.S. |
| 1990 | 1991 | 1992 | 1993 | 1994 |
| (Metric Tons) |
Canada
China
India | 0.6
124.3
- | 10.8
156.5
2.9 | 19.2
173.8
33.9 | 31.6
158.6
64.6 | 87.5
246.1
90.3 |
| ( 000 $) |
Canada
China
India | 20
2140
- | 360
2780
50 | 630
2010
290 | 980
900
500 | 2520
1560
1060 |
| Peppermint Oil Imports to the U.S. |
| 1990 | 1991 | 1992 | 1993 | 1994 |
| (Metric Tons) |
Canada
China
India | 0.2
6.4
2.2 | 3.7
5.2
9.4 | 3.8
3.4
23.8 | 4.4
29.4
86.3 | 8.9
122.3
133.3 |
| ( 000 $) |
Canada
China
India | 10
110
40 | 120
70
140 | 90
60
320 | 120
530
1250 | 310
1490
2890 |
In less than 5 years, Canada has become one of the major exporters of spearmint oil to the United States. In 1994, China surpassed Canada in quantity, but in value, Canada is nearly twice as great as China.
Canada's peppermint production was slow to increase, thus it only accounts for a small percentage of the amount (2%) and value (5%) of the total U.S. import.
Crop Diversification in British Columbia From Ginseng to Peony Root
Al Oliver, Provincial Ginseng Specialist
BC Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food
Kamloops, British Columbia
Presented at the Prairie Medicinal and Aromatic Plants Conference - Olds, Alberta - March 3-5, 1996
Before the discovery of modern medicine, mankind used all sorts of plants, animals parts, and minerals to regain or retain health, often with success. These successes were passed on from generation to generation who subsequently by trial and error improved upon the old formulas.
During the rise in Western medicine as we know it, these traditional herbal medicines were all but forgotten here in N. America. Today we are seeing a resurgence in and for the "old way." Areas like Taiwan are seeing an increase in patients reverting to the old traditional Chinese medicine. They use Western medicine there, as do many SE Asian countries, but have never entirely rejected the traditional as we did.
Eastern North America's indigenous people had a traditional medicinal system very similar to other areas of the world and had American Ginseng, Echinacea, Senega, Goldenseal, Sassafras and Slippery Elm as the mainstay of their medicine chest. Those in the Pacific NW had some of these as well as other plant species. American ginseng, as an example, was used for virtually the same reasons that China used Asian ginseng, a very closely-related plant. Trials over a long enough period came to the same conclusions in two very separate culture groups.
I asked (through a translator) an elderly gentleman from Hong Kong if he used ginseng; his answer was "yes." I then asked why he used it and his answer was almost as brief when he said, "Because it works." This was about 1985, and was the start of my knowledge base for the use of ginseng and other medicinal herbs.
What is a Traditional herbal Medicine?
According to Canada's Health Protection Branch it is "herbal medicinal products that have received relatively little attention in world scientific literature, but for which supporting references have been found acceptable by the Health Protection Branch." The following announcement took this definition one step further.
On February 27, 1996, Vancouver Hospital and Dr. Wan Jun Tze announced the formation of the "Tzu Chi Institute for Complimentary and Alternative Medicine, to be opened this fall (1996). This is the first of its kind in North America and I believe it will be an important step in the validation of many herbal "medicines." It has the support of other hospitals and post-secondary educational facilities as well.
Before we in British Columbia, or anywhere else for that matter, start to promote any plant for any use, the following work needs to be done. At this point, we have only determined this with a couple of alternate plants: ginseng and echinacea.
- The need to do trials to ensure we have the appropriate cultural information to produce an acceptable finished product.
- The need to do economic studies on individual plants to ensure that they are profitable, a very necessary aspect.
- The need to establish the presence of a stable or growing market for the product, domestic or foreign.
- The need to ensure that the regulatory requirements, domestic and international, will allow sale and transfer of product to the marketplace.
Ginseng. About 3000 acres are now in the ground, 500 of which will be harvested in the fall of 1996. American ginseng is in the "health food" category as it is seldom used as a "medicine," but more preventative. It is taken in the form of herbal tea, candy, capsules, chewable tablets, tinctures, ginseng/deer antler mixtures, and many others. American ginseng has been successful in the dry interior, but trials in the more moderate, humid west coast areas of British Columbia have not been a big success. We have also seen a value-added industry start up around ginseng that appears to be very successful.
Echinacea. Purple coneflower is another crop just starting in British Columbia, and many who have perennial borders will know it. There are about 35 growers now and more are planning on planting in 1996. Our concern here is the item 3 mentioned above about a stable or growing market, which at this time is a question. I
have no doubt this crop will grow well in British Columbia and will be relatively easy to grow, but we will right from day one have to be competitive and displace or create new markets. We can be and are competitive here in many horticultural commodities.
The following is a list of possible alternate crops I have gleaned from various books, articles, etc., that I have in my library. The most important sources of information are listed in a bibliography as part of this presentation and there are many others.
One of the problems developing a list like this is the usage of common names. It can get you into a lot of trouble or send you on a wild goose chase real fast. An example is the common name "Sarsaparilla." In western Canada, it refers to Aralia nudicaulis and has no medicinal usage I can find; while in the southern USA "Sarsasparilla" refers to Smilax glauca, the plant used medicinally. So do your homework and pay close attention to the botanical names of plants as these are the same all over the world. Another example is "Snakeroot" which has four different plants attached to one common name.
Common Name | Botanical Name | Part Used and Form | BC Native or Introduced |
| Alfalfa | Medicago sativa | dried leaves | introduced |
| Arnica | Arnica montana | flowers | native |
| Autumn Crocus | Colchicum autumnale | bulbs | introduced |
| Barberry | Berberis vulgaris | root and stem bark | introduced |
| Bearberry | Arctostaphylos uva-ursi | leaves and berries | native |
| Billberry | Vacinium myrtillus | berries | possible |
| Blackberry | Rubus fruticosis | root | native |
| Bloodroot | Sanguinaria canadensis | rhizome | introduced |
| Black currant | Ribes nigrum | leaves and fruit | native |
| Burdock | Arctium lappa | root | native-weed |
| Butchers broom | Ruscus aculeatus | all parts | possible |
| Castor Bean | Ricinus communis | all parts | introduced |
| Cayenne | Capsicum annuum | fruit | introduced |
| Chinese Boxthorn | Lycium chinense | fruit and root bark | introduced |
| Chamomile (P) | Chamamelum nobile | flower | introduced |
| Chokecherry | Prunus virginiana | bark | native |
| Chicory | Cichorium intybus | root | introduced |
| Comfrey | Symphytum officinale | all parts | introduced |
| Cranberry | Vaccinium macrocarpon | berry | native |
| Dandelion | Taraxacum officinale | all parts | introduced |
| Daphne | Daphne mezerium | berries and bark | introduced |
| Devils Club | Oplopanax horridus | root and stem bark | native |
| Dock | Rumex crispis | root | native |
| Echinacea | Echinacea spp | all parts | introduced |
| Elderberry (black) | Sambucus canadensis | flowers | native |
| English Walnut | Juglans nigra | seed & seed husk | introduced |
| Feverfew | Tanacetum parthenium | above ground parts | introduced |
| Foxglove | Digitalis purpurea | leaves | introduced |
| Garlic | Allium sativum | cloves | introduced |
| Gingko | Ginkgo biloba | leaves & seeds | introduced |
| Ginseng | Panax spp | root | introduced |
| Goldenrod | Solidago virgaurea | leaves & flowers | native |
| Goldenseal | Hydrastics canadensis | roots | introduced |
| Hawthorn | Crataegus spp | berries & flowers | native |
| Horseradish | Armoracia rusticana | root | introduced |
| Horsetail | Equisetum arvense | aerial parts | native |
| Juniper | Juniperus commumis | berries | native |
| Linden | Tillia spp | flow, leaves, bark | introduced |
| Milk Thistle | Silybum marianum | all parts | introduced |
| Mullein | Verbascum thapsus | all parts | introduced/wildcraft |
| Nettles | Urtica dioica | leaves | native |
| Oregon Grape | Mahonia aquifolium | root | native |
| Red Raspberry | Rubus idaeus | leaves | native |
| Chinese Rhubarb | Rheum officinale | root | introduced |
| Rose Hips | Rosa spp | seed hip covering | native/introduced |
| Saffron crocus | Crocus sativus | stigma & style tops | introduced |
| Sagebrush | Artemesia tridentata | leaves & flowers | native |
| Safflower | Carthamus tinctorus | petals | introduced |
| Sea Buckthorn | Hippophae rhamnoides | berries | introduced |
| Seneca | Polygala senega | root | introduced |
| Siberian Ginseng | Eleutherococcus senticosis | root and bark | introduced |
| St. John's Wort | Hypericum perforatum | leaves and flowers | introduced-weed |
| Tansy | Tanacetum vulgare | leaves | introduced |
| Witch Hazel | Hamamelis virginiana | leaves, twigs, seed | introduced |
| Wormwood | Artemesia absinthium | leaves | introduced |
| Yarrow | Achillea millefolium | all parts | native-wildcraft |
Cautions
Some of the plants listed above are presently on Health and Welfare Canada's restricted list, and a couple are on the noxious weeds list in British Columbia, so discussions need to take place regarding their actual growing. Burdock is a good example as it is on the noxious list for most of British Columbia as Burdock spp, and it is also becoming important as an exotic vegetable in some ethnic groups but more popular as a medicinal herb. How do we get these two aspects of the same plant to work together?Another area of concern for new introductions into British Columbia is the aspect of plants escaping cultivation to become a weed problem. Most of the weeds on our noxious weed list are introduced plants. What will a plant like milk thistle do when it escapes? I have some concerns about allowing anything to be grown without some planning and careful thought.
Why does Health Canada Have Regulations?
There are many plants or plant parts around the world that are extremely poisonous, some of them are in British Columbia. Others have concerns in areas of side effects in long term usage. One plant in British Columbia, water hemlock, which is not used as a medicine, takes only the residue left on a knife used to dissect this plant for identification to kill a grown man. It is not the plants like lettuce which one could "eat all day" that they are protecting us from. There was also a seed called "rosary pea" that was imported and used for costume jewellery, where one seed could kill a child (and did) before it was banned from import. This seed and other plants like it are used in Chinese traditional medicine in controlled amounts. The new facility in Vancouver may eventually legitimize such uses in controlled amounts while at present it can't be allowed.
Opportunities
There may be opportunities to grow herbal plants in British Columbia for the Asian marketplace; ones we haven't heard of yet. A few possible ones are in the above list. As the agricultural land base in Asia decreases, we may be able to grow some things for them.
There may also be opportunities to supply items to the local herbalists who use small amounts of various things. One herbalist I have talked to said his expenses for freight average 50¢/lb. This is a big advantage on some items, if they come from Europe or Asia, for example.
Hemp, I believe, will soon be grown in Canada as a fiber crop, if not a medicinal. Health Canada has just released a document where they are recognizing the difference between the Cannabis varieties and will probably increase the permits to grow this commodity. It does not come with any manufacturing infrastructure, so that will have to be developed.
As well as field cultivation there is an area of sourcing plants known as Wildcrafting. This is where an item is harvested from the wild in an orderly fashion so as to not deplete or substantially reduce the number of plants in the wild. Since British Columbia is about 95% crown land and most of this forested, this has great potential and in fact is a large business already. This control was not done with American ginseng and it is basically an extinct plant in much of its indigenous territory. Regulations on this are being discussed and it may be more controlled in the future.
Some areas where this is currently practised are:
1. Mushrooms--Pine and others
2. Dried materials
3. Wild berries
4. Medicinal herbs
5. Seeds
6. Florist materials
What are we not talking about in British Columbia
Large Acreage crops, for example mint' that is very competitive and requires up to 10,000 acres to set up an infrastructure to extract the oils.
Exotics like "Kenaf"-- a pulp replacer again requiring large acres. It is an annual but doesn't grow enough bulk here to compete. Poplar and willow spp may be an option at the present time and a good use of marginal land.
Illegals like hemp (pot). This one may come in the future as a textile and pulp product and again needing multi-acres to produce the necessary volume.
What are Governments doing in British Columbia
At the present time and probably for the future, the BC Ministry of Agriculture Fisheries and Food has no land base. We work with other agencies such as commodity organizations, growers, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, and universities to gather information. Our role is very much one of extension.
We have recently taken some time to look at Echinacea after questions began to flow across our desks. Unless pressure is put on us by the growers for specific crops like Ginseng, Kiwi, and Echinacea, we have not taken the time nor do we have the manpower to look in detail at all of the plants on the above list.
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada are moving more to looking at alternate crops at the stations in British Columbia. Agissiz is in the process of developing a repository of seed and plants for medicinal, culinary, herbal, and native plants for observation and as a source of plant material. Our Ministry will work closely with this. They have and are also looking at other alternative crops.
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada at Summerland have ginseng research gardens in place and are adding some trial plots of echinacea. They are also looking at other things and have given some importance to alternate crops for British Columbia agriculture.
Government budgets are being squeezed more all the time and we are suggesting that you, particularly growers, begin to acquire information on things that interest you. Use local libraries, talk to herb companies, health food stores, herbalists, etc., and develop expertise in some of these areas by yourself. Get a few plants and/or seeds and see how things grow. Cooperate with friends in various micro climates, etc., to see what happens.
Governments are becoming less able to carry the load and even now much research done is a joint venture with industry.
Start to find information on cultural and other requirements, best time to harvest, what parts are used, pest problems, ship dry or fresh, market needs, expected returns, and labor requirements.
Perspectives on Medicinal uses of Native Plants
Robin J. Marles, Ph.D., Associate Professor
Botany Department, Brandon University
Brandon, Manitoba
Presented at the Prairie Medicinal and Aromatic Plants Conference - Olds, Alberta - March 3-5, 1996
Sixty thousand years ago in what is now a part of Iran, a Neanderthal man was buried together with eight medicinal plants, one of which was Ephedra, still used today as a herb or source of the drug ephedrine to treat asthma and congestion due to colds. Despite their long history of effective use, many herbal medicines have fallen out of favour, like Perry Davis Painkiller with spruce oil, chili pepper oleoresin, and 46% alcohol, which would certainly be "warming" as the label claims. However, the history of medicine is truly the history of medicinal plants. Although some people might think they are merely of historical interest, actually 25% of the prescriptions dispensed from our pharmacies contain active principles derived from plants. Currently there are over 120 plant-derived drugs in professional use world-wide, three-quarters of which were discovered through scientific investigations of traditional medicines.
Here in Canada our knowledge of medicinal plant use does not extend back 60,000 years because most of Canada was under ice at that time. Even within historical times, the shortage of written records on native plant use limits our knowledge of the length of time for which particular plants have been used. Nevertheless, the many First Nations of Canada have rich oral traditions of medicinal plant use remembered by tribal elders.
A number of Canadian plants used by native people in traditional medicine have found a place in our modern pharmacopoeia. For example, the west coast's Cascara Sagrada (Rhamnus purshiana, Rhamnaceae) provides the safe and effective anthraquinone glycoside, cascaroside A, found in many commercial laxative preparations. Several alkaloid-containing plants have become important, including green hellebore (Veratrum viride, Liliaceae) of BC and AB as a source of antihypertensive protoveratrines and bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis, Papaveraceae) from our eastern forests as a source of the antibiotic sanguinarine. Two Canadian plants recently have become famous as sources of anticancer agents: the eastern may apple (Podophyllum peltatum, Podophyllaceae) from which etoposide and teniposide lignin glycosides are derived, and the Pacific yew tree (Taxus brevifolius, Taxaceae), from which taxol is obtained. The complexity of the chemical structures of these active principles is a good indication of why, while total chemical syntheses are possible, in most cases it is more economical to extract the active principle or its precursor from the source plant.
A number of different directions may be followed in medicinal plant research. From cultivated marigolds (Tagetes patula, Asteraceae) we have been studying thiophene constituents that are showing great promise as environmentally friendly pesticides for agriculture, forestry, and disease vector control. Most recently, we have discovered derivatives which show selective inhibition of the reproduction and cytopathic effects of the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV-1) that causes AIDS. Derivatization is often an important step for selectivity of action of natural product drugs, since these compounds evolved as defenses against herbivores and plant pathogens, where great potency and a broad spectrum of activity would be more advantageous than selectivity. Derivatization also helps to make a patentable product that drug companies will be interested in developing and marketing.
The antimigraine herbal drug, feverfew (Tanacetum parthenium, Asteraceae) varies both qualitatively and quantitatively in its active constituents, including sesquiterpene lactones such as parthenolide, and biological activities. We have studied a number of varieties by HPLC and assayed their blood platelet serotonin release inhibition, inhibition of some enzymes, and cytotoxicity in order to gain a better understanding of their antimigraine activity and selectivity. One of the outcomes of this work was to establish standards for the licensing of a registered crude drug, Tanacet 125, for the prophylaxis of migraines. We are continuing to study pure sesquiterpene lactones from both natural and semisynthetic sources and have some leads through molecular modelling of their three-dimensional shape and physicochemical properties for the development of more selective, less toxic antimigraine agents.
The commercial success of plant-derived drugs, now an industry estimated to be worth over $40 billion world-wide, has led to a great deal of interest in medicinal plants as alternative crops. This is particularly important for the prairie provinces, where 72% of Canadian farm bankruptcies occur, with a frequency which has increased 1000% over the last 15 years. Farmers looking to diversify beyond the traditional grain and oilseed crops are hoping for opportunities with native prairie medicinal plants such as purple coneflower (Echinacea angustifolia, Asteraceae), which is in demand as a non-specific immune system stimulant to prevent common illnesses such as colds. A wide range of commercial Echinacea products, including liquid extracts, teas, and capsules of dried herb, are now available, supplied primarily by large US operations such as Trout Farms.
The forest industry is also looking for alternate crops. Although Canada has 10% of the world's forests, we are currently harvesting approximately one million hectares/year (10,000 km²) which, when coupled with natural losses due to fires and insect infestations, represents a significant proportion of the available resource (perhaps >1%). Diversification of the forest industry with non-timber forest resources has already included mosses and birchbark for floral arrangements, willow withes for wickerwork, lichens for architectural models and mushrooms for exported foods. Canadian ginseng (Panax quinquefolius, Araliaceae), native to our eastern hardwood forests, has now become an important cultivated crop in Ontario and British Columbia, and is of increasing importance here in the prairie provinces. One area we need to focus more attention on is value-added processing for both local and export markets. We can learn from the Koreans, who are producing a wide range of Oriental ginseng (P. ginseng) products including novelties such as ginseng roots preserved in honey and ginseng chewing gum.
Interest in diversifying the forest industry with non-timber plant resources led the Canadian Forest Service to fund my boreal ethnobotany project, which is looking at the traditional uses of boreal forest plants by our First Nations elders as a guide to the discovery of new ideas for plants with potential for economic development. This project, which involves more than 20 communities across central and northern Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta, has provided ethno-botanical training to 14 First Nations students who worked with botany students in collaborative teams. Students interviewed elders (usually in their native language) to obtain ethno-botanical information which is supported by the collection of voucher specimens and information from detailed literature reviews.
Advantages of this approach include
- the linguistic and cultural skills of the native students who also gain technical skills,
- the technical skills of the botany students who gained a greater cultural awareness,
- cultural preservation through the making of permanent records of plant use and passing of the knowledge between generations,
- the identification of new potential renewable resources for economic development of First Nations communities, and
- the diversification of the forest industry which may lead to greater stability, employment, and sustainability.
The project has resulted in the collection of information on over 100 species of plants, covering a broad range of uses including food plants such as aspen (Populus tremuloides, Salicaceae), inner bark "noodles," and cloud berries (Rubus chamaemorus, Rosaceae) which could be important for potential improvements to local nutrition, variety in the diet, and perhaps marketable food products. Some food plants could be sources of nutriceuticals, e.g. fireweed (Epilobium angustifolium, Onagraceae) leaves which are rich in vitamins A and C: 18,708 I.U. of A and 220 mg of C/100 g fresh weight of leaves, compared with 200 I.U. of A and 50 mg of C in an orange. We are looking at plants used for technology and handicrafts, e.g. production of snowshoes, baskets, drums, and toys made from such materials as birch bark and wood (Betula papyrifera, Betulaceae), spruce roots (Picea glauca, Pinaceae), and tamarack wood (Larix laricina, Pinaceae). These products have a significant value-added component. Ritual uses of plants include sweet grass (Hierochloe odorata, Poaceae), which is in great demand for ceremonial smoke-cleansing, and could be developed as a new crop.
Of particular interest to me are the medicinal uses of plants, which of course within the native traditions cannot be completely separated from the spiritual aspects of plant use. Tobacco is given to the earth in exchange for plants taken from it, a concept of respect and reciprocity that we would do well to emulate in our quest for sustainable development of native species. As all cultures have different beliefs about the cause of diseases, we do not expect every plant used medicinally to have demonstrable biological effects, i.e. we are not looking for promises of eternal youth, perpetual health and muscles of steel. While some plants' effects may depend on psychological mechanisms, which are always an important part of healing, e.g. the placebo effect, the medicinal actions of many remedies can be explained by their phytochemical constituents and pharmacological activities. For example, the use of the poisonous mushroom (Amanita muscaria, Agaricaceae) as an eyewash for eye infections can be supported by its content of muscarine which stimulates tear production. Wild licorice (Glycyrrhiza lepiota, Fabaceae) is known to have triterpene glycosides that ease sore throats, and cow parsnip (Heracleum lanatum, Apiaceae) has photo activated furanocoumarins effective against skin diseases. One of the most widely used and potentially marketable native medicinal plants is sweet flag or ratroot (Acorus calamus, Araceae), which due to its content of phenylpropanoids and other constituents has been proven to be a safe and effective antispasmodic for gastrointestinal problems and coughs--two of its principal traditional uses.
Promising plants which have not been adequately studied pharmacognostically include purple aster (Aster puniceus, Asteraceae) as a headache medicine and wild sarsaparilla (Aralia nudicaulis, Araliaceae) as a medicine for the heart and other purposes. Even the trees which are currently being harvested for their wood, such as jack pine (Pinus banksiana, Pinaceae), could also be extracted for pharmaceuticals and fine chemicals including antioxidant proanthocyanidin oligomers (pycnogenol) and flavonoids for health and pest control products. Mistletoe (Arceuthobium spp., Loranthaceae), which infects conifers to cause witches'-broom and is the subject of expensive eradication efforts, might prove to be useful as a source of antiviral lectins. Putting a price on the head of pests and weeds can encourage their removal and provide a profit instead of a liability.
One forest plant which is already a commercial drug is bearberry or kinnikinnick (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi, Ericaceae), whose leaves are registered as a diuretic for over-the-counter use. Currently we are importing this common species from the United States! Value-added processing of these native medicinal plants will be essential to reduce the volume and weight and increase the value in order to make transport affordable.
Finally, we are also looking into the ecology of potential economic species in order to assess the sustainability and environmental impact of harvest. Most native species would have to be cultivated to assure a sustainable supply, but we do have precedents for commercial methods of production set by the cultivation of other forest species such as Canadian ginseng. It has been virtually exterminated in its natural habitat by excessive "wildcrafting" originally promoted by Jesuit missionaries over 200 years ago.
In summary, there are many native medicinal plants that are potentially useful as sources of drugs and as alternate crops for diversification of the agricultural and forest industries, especially if processed locally to improve their value. Many leads are being provided by the traditional knowledge resource of our First Nations communities which should be followed up by scientific investigations. It is hoped that everyone will be able to share in the health and economic benefits that these products may eventually provide.
Varietal Improvement of Herbs: Prospects and Challenges