Background
Herbal, medicinal and aromatic plants, often called
‘botanicals’, are part of our folklore, history, and increasingly a part of
our household medicine chest. In the U.S., aligned with increased attention
to food safety, consumers and suppliers alike are striving for more accurate
identification and labeling, standard characterization of active chemical
constituents (and impurities) and recommendations for the method of administration
of the substances. Many botanicals originate in the Arab world, along with
the original characterizations of their use from oral and written history.
Producers in the countries of origin could add value to their raw materials
through preliminary processing and more accurate characterization of their
products before they are exported to European and U.S. markets. In order to
promote Tunisian medicinal, herbal and aromatic plants, a project funded by
USDA-FAS (Foreign Affair Services) is being implemented in full partnership
between Institut des Regions Arides (IRA), ICARDA, ARS (Agricultural Research
Services, USDA, USA). This project proposes the first phase of a long-term
regional effort that will conserve biodiversity, thereby safeguarding the
natural supply of botanicals and introducing under-utilized species into the
market stream. The project aims to
employ a better system to cultivate the species or sustainably harvest them in situ,
and add value through on-farm processing and in-country analysis of active
biological compounds to improve the characterization of herbal products. This pilot project in southern Tunisia seeks to construct a
more organized market framework to benefit all stakeholders and lead to sustainability
of Tunisian herbal, medicinal and aromatic plants through commercial use.