A team of researchers in Ontario, Canada, has initiated a massive
research project to protect and enhance Ontario’s ginseng industry.1,2
The project, worth $20,782,919 in Canadian dollars ($21,104,866
USD), titled “New Technologies for Ginseng Agriculture and Product
Development,” intends to provide information for differentiating
Ontario-grown North American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius)
from that grown elsewhere—particularly China or Korea—and enable the
certification and branding of Ontario-grown ginseng. The project
further intends to examine the specific uses of various varieties of
Ontario ginseng in addressing different health concerns.
The project is being directed by Edmund M.K. Lui of the University
of Western Ontario, who will coordinate with researchers from 5 other
Ontario universities.3 Project partners include the Ontario
Ginseng Growers Association (OGGA); Jamieson Laboratories Ltd., a
manufacturer of natural health products; Naturex, a producer of
standardized herbal extracts; and A&L Canada Laboratories Inc.2
The Ontario Ministry of Research and Innovation has provided $6,927,640
($7,033,786 USD) in funding, which is being matched by industry and
other partners of the collaboration.
“We believe in this project because it is a milestone in the dietary
supplement business,” said Jacques Dikansky, president and CEO of
Naturex, according to a recent Naturex press release.3 “For
the first time all of the participants will join efforts to create an
innovative and scientifically-supported range of North American ginseng
derivatives. For this reason, Naturex is proud [to be] supporting this
ambitious project.”
Canada is the world’s largest producer of American ginseng, generating around 5 million pounds of dried ginseng root each year.4 The majority of this ginseng is grown in Ontario, where ginseng ranks as the province’s fifth largest cash crop.2
According to the OGGA, prices of North American ginseng root have been
declining over the past few years, while the production of American
ginseng in China has been increasing.1 The OGGA has stated
that the blending of low-cost Chinese-grown American ginseng with
Ontario-grown ginseng has confused consumers both in the United States
and abroad and is negatively impacting Ontario’s ginseng industry. The
organization has further argued that the ginseng grown in Canada tastes
differently and possibly performs differently than the American ginseng
grown in Asia. By being able to conclusively identify and brand Ontario
ginseng, the industry hopes to create a sustainable competitive
advantage for Canadian ginseng.
The Wisconsin ginseng industry has likewise complained in recent
years of problems caused by Chinese-grown American ginseng in the
herbal market.5 Wisconsin growers and their representative
organizations specifically cited problems of product
misbranding—wherein marketers would erroneously try to pass off
Chinese-grown American ginseng, or possibly even Asian ginseng (Panax ginseng),
as Wisconsin grown. Wisconsin growers have similarly argued that their
own area’s ginseng is superior. An article concerning the historical
problems and recent developments within the Wisconsin ginseng industry
was published in HerbalGram issue 75. That article is available here.
—Courtney Cavaliere
References
1Good things come to those who grow and wait [press release]. Ontario: Ontario Ginseng Growers Association; February 1, 2008.
2$20 million public private partnership to strengthen Ontario ginseng industry. Market News Service for Medicinal Plants and Extracts. March 2008;26:34.
3Naturex participates in major ginseng research program [press release]. Avignon, France: Naturex; February 26, 2008.
4Zhang
J. How Wisconsin lost its big advantage in the ginseng game—foreign
competition, fakery and mislabeling abound; trading on state’s name. Wall Street Journal. March 8, 2006;A1.
5Cavaliere C, Blumenthal M. Wisconsin ginseng farmers fight to protect product reputation. HerbalGram. 2007;75:54-61. |