Background: Medicinal and aromatic plants (MAPs) are valued for their medicinal or therapeutic properties, flavor or scent. Besides drug production, MAPs? leaves, roots and flowers are also processed for culinary, cosmetic, dietary supplements, decorative, flavoring and fragrance purposes. Herbal teas, tinctures, extracts, tablets or capsules, essences, colors and flavors are the main range of products that could be obtained from medicinal plants. Global trade in herbal medicines (raw herbs, tinctures, extracts, teas) is estimated at $ 10 billion annually and is growing at more than 10% per year. Many developing countries are able to supply MAPs not only from the wild, but also cultivated on thousands of hectares. Globally the factors that contribute to increased demand for MAP?s are: ? increased focus on health and fitness ? a growing public willingness to take responsibility for their own health ? increased acceptance that food has therapeutic value ? increased awareness of the importance of the preventative approach to medicine ? greater emphasis on a more natural lifestyle.
Moldova was one of the biggest producers of raw medicinal plants and essential oils in the USSR. About 5,000 tons of medicinal raw materials and 160 tons of essential oils were produced annually. The area under the medicinal and aromatic plants was around 20 thousand hectares and 22 specialized farms were involved in this sector. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, this high value sector of the Moldovan economy was practically destroyed.
The potential of the MAPs sector is not fully utilized in Moldova today. This sector can create jobs for thousands of families, especially in rural areas where poverty and unemployment is much higher than in the rest of the country. New Lavender and Sage plantations for essential oils production are in Rezina, Nisporeni, Anenii Noi districts, but these areas under cultivation are considerable small compared to before. Raw medicinal plants that are traded in dried form (about 200 tons annually) are only of wild origin, i.e. harvested from the spontaneous flora.
Moldova having excellent climacteric and soil conditions, with proximity to the EU and having a core of trained personnel in the fields of chemistry, biology, agriculture, pharmacology has a great opportunity to restart cultivation of MAPs and introduce production of high value products such as herbal teas, medicinal extracts, alkaloids etc with great demand on EU and global pharmaceutical, cosmetic and food markets. There are also local processors who are currently importing products that can be grown locally and are committed to buying more from local producers, if production increases.
A major factor impeding the development of the medicinal plant based sector in Moldova is the lack of information on markets, on modern production technologies and on benefits that could be derived from the cultivation and industrial utilization of medicinal plants. Except for the use of plants for local health care needs, not much information has been available for farmers and entrepreneurs on MAPs market potential and trading possibilities. Other constraints associated with cultivation of medicinal plants and which have to be remedied are: - Lack of wide research on development of high-yielding varieties, domestication etc. - Poor propagation methods - Inefficient processing techniques leading to low yields and poor quality products - Poor harvesting and post-harvest treatment practices - Poor quality control procedures - Difficulties in marketing - Lack of equipment and tools for harvesting and processing
Assignment overview: The consultant in Medicinal & Aromatic Plants Production & Processing will work together with two local consultants and local partners interested in MAPs modern cultivation and processing technologies. The assignment will cover 3 site visits to MAPs growers and processors (Medfarma Ltd, Chisinau; Resendjer Ltd, Rezina;Cioara Ltd, Hincesti) and possibly conduct 2 Regional Field Days on Modern Practices in Medicinal & Aromatic Plants Production, Post-harvest Handling & Processing (one in the Central Moldova and one in the South).
The consultant will work with the local STC?s to develop several Production Guides for the selected MAPs that have the greatest competitive advantage. Additionally, the consultant should provide marketing and sales information which includes past and present prices and quality information, as well as potential international buyers and/or brokers. A report should be developed on each visited client that is involved in the MAP industry.
The consultant will also conduct a general assessment of the MAP cluster regarding its viability and future support from CNFA. The consultant should look at each component of the sector, assess their relevance to the cluster, determine how well these components work together, and make recommendations for improvements. This assessment should include not only how each player needs to improve its interaction with other players, but also how CNFA can contribute to growth in the MAP sector.
The Regional Field Days will be focused on the following topics: 1. Reviewing of the current cultivation, harvest and post-harvest practices Cultivation, harvest and post-harvest practices in Moldova are on a very low level. Only Lavender and Sage are presently cultivated in Moldova on larger areas. Many MAPs are cultivated only on trial plots at the Pharmacognozy and Botany Faculty of the State University of Medicine and at the Moldovan Research Station for Aromatic and Medicinal Plants. Learning about the production practices, about growing technologies, advanced varieties of different MAPs species, specific machinery that is necessary for MAPs cultivation, harvest, drying and processing will be a great support for Moldovan farmers.
2. Assistance in establishing of cultivation of different prospective MAP species in Moldova One of the important objectives of this STTA is to get introduction to modern growing technologies of certain varieties that are not cultivated in Moldova; species that could be easily cultivated in Moldovan agro-climate conditions and that have good position on the domestic and foreign markets ? Chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla), Marigold (Calendula officinalis), Lemon balm (Melissa officinalis), St. John?s Wort (Hypericum perforatum), Peppermint (Mentha peperita), Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare), Flax seeds (Linum usitatissimum) etc. Moldovan representatives will learn how to achieve efficient production, harvesting, drying, storage and processing performance; will perceive the agronomic potential of different plant crops; will study different production, harvesting and drying practices that are required by each plant crop; will identify production limitations such as heat and moisture requirements, as well as the length of growing season for each crop being considered. The critical production issues such as crop selection, site selection, adaptability, seedbed preparation, seeding, fertilization, weed control, harvesting, drying, storage and processing will be given a special attention.
3. Learn about MAP supply chain and functioning of MAP cluster The crucial issue in MAP sector is to ensure sustainable supply. This is possible only through proper functioning of the entire cluster ? from collectors and growers, through buyers (processors or exporters) to government bodies (Ag. institutes and Faculties, Government bodies – to ensure control and support).
4. Study about marketing of MAPs The information about the MAP target markets and state-of-the-art processing methods plays a crucial role if to be competitive these days. It means reviewing and appraising permanently the target markets, developing and offering new, value-added processed products, supporting them by means of new marketing strategies and harmonizing the processing methods. It also requires establishing direct buyer contacts among international buyers, which will only be possible if processing, labeling, packaging, certification, and other contemporary marketing methods are improved. Moldovan participants will learn about main export markets, main European players, main international exhibitions related to MAPs and requirements on MAPs packaging and labeling.
5. Learn about implementing of Good Agricultural and Collection Practices (GACP) Western medicinal plants processing companies are increasingly concerned about the origin of raw products that they purchase and the way they have been produced with the main aim to ensure that plants are produced hygienically and with care. Cultivating, collecting, grading and drying raw plants correctly are of the utmost importance for the quality and safety of the finished products. Quality control and quality assurance for herbal products must begin at the farm. Moldovan participants will get informed about GACP principles and the implementation process.
6. Exposure to MAP Associations Although the thrust of the training should be cultivation and post-harvest handling techniqies of MAPs, the participants should also learn how a dynamic, well organized MAP association can assist in this effort. The Moldovan participants will also learn how MAP cultivation can be expanded with the help of a MAP Association and other interested parties (government, faculties, etc.).
Scope of Services and Deliverables required: Consultant(s) will work with client companies? owners and managers, visit the physical plant, conduct assessment of equipment available and technologies used and provide targeted recommendations for each company visited. Below are short descriptions of each company operations and specific focus of the assignment: Medfarma Ltd is a unique Moldovan enterprise that process dried MAPs and produce high value products such as herbal teas for the local market. About 40 tons of raw plants are processed per year, although 50% of raw materials that can be successfully grown in Moldova are imported (e. g. Chamomile, Calendula, Fennel). Raw materials acquired from the local suppliers are mainly collected from the Moldovan spontaneous flora (wild crafted). Medfarma strives to build a network of local farmers that will start growing MAPs.
Resendjer Ltd grows Lavender on 130 ha (95 bearing ha) and produces more than 2,000 tons of essential oil using the distillation technology. Resendjer would like to expand to new products in order to extend the production season and also to new technologies like CO2 extracts.
Cioara Ltd grows Lavender (110 ha), Sage (140 ha), Dill (120 ha), Hyssop (35 ha) & other plants producing essential oils using a distiller. The company would like to grow other MAPs not only for extraction but also to be sold as dried raw herbs.
Deliverables for Medfarma, Resendjer and Cioara include: Complete assessment of the growing and processing technologies; Assessment of technological process including products receiving, processing and storage; Set of recommendations for equipment upgrade, including repairs needed, equipment needed; Set of recommendations for technological upgrade including new prospective MAPs, process flow, potential risks, and quality management procedures.
The consultant will be requested to prepare individual reports for each visited company as well as overall assignment for CNFA with recommendations on areas where CNFA assistance could be most efficient for developing of Moldovan MAPs sector.
In addition to the site visits and Regional Field Days, the consultant in collaboration with 2 local consultants will develop a Guide on Cultivation, Post-harvest handling, Processing and Marketing of selected MAPs. The guide will be printed and distributed to local interested parties.
Consultant(s) Qualifications: The consultant must have a US passport and should have practical experience in commercial production of multiple medicinal herbs and aromatic plants, as well as processing and marketing them (drying, distillation & CO2 extracts, packaging, etc). He/she should be able to evaluate the Moldovan MAP sector and determine costs and gross revenue calculations for the country and benchmark it to international standards based on soil types and climatic conditions. Working or consulting experience in Central and Eastern Europe is welcome.
