WP 1 Task 1.4 Other specialty crops Task leader: Alice Grigore

Crops2Industry “Non-food Crops-to-Industry schemes in EU27” WP 1Task 1.4 Other specialty cropsTask leader: Alice Grigore

Content • Objectives • Progress of work • Results • Status of deliverables & milestones • Problems encountered • Plans for the next 6 Months

1. Objectives • systematic overview of the non-food crops in the agriculture of EU-27, which currently offer opportunity to produce a range of pharmaceuticals and other specialty products • identifying promising plant species in EU-27 context

2. Progress of work • Screening on wild and cultivated medicinal plants in EU 27 • Quality characteristics of the raw material - good agricultural and collection practices (GACP) for medicinal plants • Selection of the most promising medicinal crops Forecast of climate change and impact on crops development Calendula officinalis L. (Asteraceae), Echinacea angustifolia DC (Asteraceae), Lavandula angustifolia Mill. (Lamiaceae), Mentha x piperita L. (Lamiaceae), Plantago lanceolata L. (Plantaginaceae)‏ ●Common names ● Areas of origin and current cultivation ● Plant anatomy ●Growing conditions – input requirements ● Logistics (harvesting – handling) until the industrial plant gate ● Yields ● Quality ● Experimental pharmacology ● Dosage ●Other uses ● Factors restricting growth and yielding potential ● Research gaps ●Information resources Conclusions

3. ResultsScreening on wild and cultivated medicinal plants in EU 27 • Documentation on the potential of cultivated and wild collected medicinal and aromatic plants (MAPs) have been done for EU27 countries. Collected data: - cultivated area and MAPs production - the main cultivated plants - the main MAPs collected from the wild -legal protection of MAPs and their conservation to avoid danger and existing threats to MAPs species

Area of production (1000 ha)Officinal herbs, aromatic plants, plants for seasoning (Eurostat)‏

Fully converted organic crop area (ha)Officinal herbs, aromatic plants, plants for seasoning (Eurostat)‏

Quality control systems → important for the production of high-quality herbal products due to the inherent complexity of naturally grown medicinal plants/herbal substances The concept of GMP for active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs) also applies to medicinal plants/herbal substances Quality characteristics of the raw material - good agricultural and collection practices (GACP) for medicinal plants

The European Herb Growers Association has developed Good Agricultural and Collection Practice for starting materials of herbal origin (GACP) which provides technical details for the cultivation of medicinal plants. Current GACPs contribute by: 1. European Herb Growers Association (EUROPAM): 2006 2. European Herbal Infusions Association (EHIA): 2006 3. Committee on Herbal Medicinal Products (HMPC) of European Medicines Agency (EMEA): 2006 4. World Health Organization (WHO): 2003 5. International Standard for Sustainable Wild Collection of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (ISSC-MAP)

A limiting factor for starting new crops is represented by weather conditions. Scientists widely agree that global climate change is already causing major environmental effects→ Crop management will have to be adapted to this situation Forecast of climate change and impact on crops development(European Environment Agency, 2008)‏

Between 1971 and 2000, the average advance of spring and summer was 2.5 days per decade. →flowering and maturity of several species in Europe now occurs two or three weeks earlier than in the past. →A longer growing season increases crop yields and favours the introduction of new species in areas that were not previously suitable for these species (northern latitudes). →crop yields will become more variable. While the area under arable cultivation in most of western Europe has decreased over the past 40 years, crop yields have increased almost continuously Phenological changes

-12 % of the total EU land area, are already subject to water erosion. -Projections (for 2071–2100) show a general reduction in summer soil moisture over most of Europe, significant reductions in the Mediterranean region, and increases in the north-eastern part of Europe. -Soil degradation together with prolonged drought periods and increased numbers of fires are already intense in parts of the Mediterranean and central-eastern Europe. →risk of desertification Soil

A significant increase in water demand (50–70 %) occurred mainly in Mediterranean areas; large decreases were recorded mainly in northern and central European regions. Current trends and future scenarios depict an increase in the demand for water in agriculture, potentially increasing competition for water. Water

Based on ●statistical survey of existing European medicinal crops●forecast of climate change●data received from the most important Romanian manufacturers of phytopharmaceutically products 5 medicinal and aromatic species showed high potential for cultivation and a good potential for further valorification: Lavandula angustifolia ● Calendula officinalis ● Mentha piperita ● ●Plantago lanceolata ● Echinacea angustifolia. Although these species are widely cultivated in Europe, the selection is justified by ●multi-purpose potential of the plant ●various types of raw material for industrial use ● important market demand. Selection of the most promising medicinal crops

Areas of origin and current cultivation Indigenous to Central, Eastern and Southern Europe. Cultivated commercially in North America, Eastern Europe and Germany. Plant material of interest according to Ph Eur:ﬂowers Growing conditions – input requirements -although perennial, it is treated as annual plant -no special requirements from climatic factors, -it grows on all types of soil and in all areas except the mountain. -no requirements regarding the previous crop and also itself is a good crop for other future species. -On deep soils, well drained with good fertility, production increases. Calendula officinalis L. (Asteraceae) (pot marigold)‏‏

-Vegetation period is long → give good production until September. -culture may be established by seeds and by seedlings as well Crop management -responds well to application of organic fertilizers (increased production of inflorescences, high content of carotenoids and bitter principles)‏ -Weeds must be removed whenever is necessary (Legal options for chemical weed control are limited in most EU countries due to the absence of specific pesticide approvals for Calendula). -if preventive measures are followed, such as rotation and cultural hygiene, there are no disease or pests which can affect production.

Logistics (harvesting – handling) until the industrial plant gate Harvest -is a difficult operation that requires attention and manual labor. The operation is done in several phases, from June to October Drying is made in a thin layer in the shade, in well-ventilated rooms, dry and clean. Drying efficiency is 8:1. Yields 1.5-3 t/ ha ligulate flowers and 4-9 t/ ha fresh inflorescences.

Regulatory status In UK and Germany, Calendula for external use is included on the general sale List. It is official in the British Pharmacopeia and the European Pharmacopeia. In US Calendula does have GRAS status Major chemical constituents - triterpenic saponins (2–10%) based on oleanolic acid (i.e. calendulosides), ﬂavonoids (no less than 0.4%) essential oil, sesquiterpenes, polysaccharides. Pharmacological activity Antibacterial, antiviral, anti-inﬂammatory and wound-healing activity

Other uses: -paint additive - methyl, ethyl and isopropyl calendulate as reactive diluent showing low viscosity and good drying properties. -The growing plant acts as an insect deterrent, it reduces the soil eelworm population. -The flowers are used cosmetically. -A yellow dye is obtained from the boiled flowers. -3-O-monoglucoside of oleanolic acid secreted to the soil by Calendula species possesses very strong allelophatic properties in relation to the dicotyledons and weaker activity to the monocotyledons.

Factors restricting growth and yielding potential -need to develop more hardy genotypes; improved lines showed good adaptation. Research gaps -Canadian specialists suggest that, for C. officinalis, shallow culture hydroponics is a good choice for mimicking xerophytic adaptation

Areas of origin and current cultivation -native to the Atlantic drainage area of the USA and Canada. Cultivation areas of E. angustifolia in Europe: Germany-5ha (2000), France-17ha (2000), Spain-1ha (2002), Switzerland-1ha (2002). Plant material of interest according to Ph Eur:fresh or dried roots Growing conditions – input requirements -perennial herb -grows best in a more alkaline soil than the other Echinacea species, -is best suited to well-drained, moderately rich soil types -grows best in hot sun, is well adapted to dry growing conditions Echinacea angustifolia DC. (Asteraceae) (narrow-leaved coneflower)(coneﬂower)‏

-is an exceptionally drought-tolerant species based on their morphology. -frost-resistant and winter-hardy perennial, they can tolerate -25ºC to -40ºC temperatures. Under optimal conditions, commercial cultivation has been practiced near the Arctic Circle at Oulunsalo. Planting -Echinacea crop can be established by seed or planting stock.

Crop management -responds well to application of organic fertilizers -it is not weed tolerant in cultivation, especially in the first year. In small cultivation areas, mechanical weeding is appropriate for small areas and chemical weed control for larger production. -In Echinacea crops have not noticed important diseases or pests. Logistics (harvesting – handling) until the industrial plant gate Harvest -herba could be harvested since the second year of culture, at flowering. In the third, fourth years of culture, both aerial parts and root (by hand or by machinery)‏ could be harvested

Drying naturally or artificially, at temperatures up to 35-45ºC. Drying efficiency is about 4:1 for herba and 3:1 for roots. Yields Fresh production of herba may be about 5 / ha in the second year of vegetation, and 10-12 t / ha in the coming years. 3.6-3.9 t/ ha for roots Regulatory status UK and Germany - Echinacea is included on the General sale List. E. angustifolia root have a monograph in Ph Eur and British Ph.

Major chemical constituents -volatile oil, alkamides (more than 20), polyalkenes, polyalkynes, caffeic acid derivatives (echinacoside, cichoric acid and cynarin, the last one is present only in E. angustifolia, thus distinguishing it from the closely related E. pallida) and polysaccharides. Pharmacological activity -stimulator of the immune system based on over 350 scientiﬁc studies in the past 50 years. -anti-inﬂammatory activity (due to alkylamide composition)

Other uses: -Veterinary medicine The research reports available suggest that Echinacea can be a rational inclusion into livestock husbandry practices under appropriate conditions, and may provide an effective alternative to subtherapeutic antibiotics. -Cosmetics

Factors restricting growth and yielding potential -great natural variation of Echinacea within a species → have a tremendous effect on ﬁnal product quality. Genetic and environmental differences including variety, cultivation regions, harvest time, and cultivation or processing conditions → diversity -as regards quality control, Echinacea markers are unstable in juice, during harvesting and drying, and in storage. Losses can be minimized by rapid drying during harvest, protection from oxidation in storage, and use of cooler storage temperatures.

Research gaps -varieties development by chemotype identification -Improvement in phytochemical marker consistency -developing studies concerning the efficacy of Echinacea as a growth promoter and immune enhancer in productive livestock

Areas of origin and current cultivation It is a native species in Southeastern and Southwestern Europe and naturalized elswhere in Europe and Africa. Lavandula angustifolia is cultivated on small areas in Cyprus, Estonia, Latvia and on large areas in Bulgaria (3959 ha), Italy (61% of farms adopt organic techniques). Lavandin and lavender (4500ha) cover 60% of the French planted acreage of medicinal, aromatic and perfume plants. France produces 70% of the world supply for these two crops. Plant material of interest according to Ph Eur: dried flowers and essential oil Lavandula angustifolia Mill.(Lamiaceae) (lavender)(lavender)‏

Growing conditions – input requirements -perennial aromatic shrub -requires high temperatures on germination - about 10-15ºC. -During the winter months resists from -15ºC (winters without snow) to -30ºC (covered with snow). -supports drought well, thanks to a highly developed root system. -light-loving plant, if it grows in sunny locations develops large bushes and gather more volatile oil. -high demands regarding the ground, it grows very well on different soils, sandy or rocky limestone. Cold soils with excess moisture and shallow groundwater are not suitable.

Planting-multiplied by seed, seedlings or shrubs separation Crop management -Lavender produces well on soils that are nutrient deficient for most other crops. Excessive applications of nitrogen can decrease oil quality, make plants unhealthy and will increase weed competition. -need for destruction of perennial weeds in first year Pest and diseases -species resistant to diseases and pests, but there are some diseases such as Septoria, Botrys, spider mite if kept undercover in a dry atmosphere, in the summer months.

Logistics (harvesting – handling) until the industrial plant gate Harvest -at full bloom when volatile oil content is maximum, manually or with special machines (reducing labor consumption per ha from 20 workers to 1 ha to 0.5 ha / hour mechanized harvesting)‏ Drying – natural in the shade or artificial. Drying efficiency is 5-7:1 Distillation -Industrial production is made by water distillation, steam and water distillation and steam distillation. Duration of distillation will be around 90 min and over 90% of the total amount of oil is distilled in the first 60 min.

Yields Fresh inflorescence production in the first 2-3 years is 2-3 t / ha and in coming years can reach 5-6 t / ha. Up to 10 kg volatile oil could be obtained per tonne of fresh inflorescences. Regulatory status Lavender is covered by a positive Comission E monograph. Is officially in the British Ph and the European Ph. Lavender does have generally recognised as safe (GRAS) status. International Standard specification have been published for L. angustifolia oil (ISO 3515:2002).

Major chemical constituents :1.0–3.0% essential oil, of which the major constituents are linalyl acetate (30–55%) and linalool (20–50%); hydroxycinnamic acid esters (rosmarinic and chlorogenic acid). Pharmacological activities for lavender flowers Antimicrobial, antioxidant, antiulcer, uterine stimulating, anticonvulsant and sedative Pharmacological activities for lavender volatile oil Anaesthetic, anticonvulsant and sedative, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial and acaricidal, antispasmodic activities, central nervous system depressant effects

Other uses: -essential oil has a very wide range of applications, cosmetics – soaps, perfumes, detergent and cleaning agent, food - flavouring, repellent – acaricide and pediculicide effects and against mice -the aromatic leaves and flowers are used in pot-pourri and as an insect and mice repellent -ornamental as a low hedge, responding well to trimming.

Factors restricting growth and yielding potential -improvement in oil quality by selection and breeding - there is a need to increase the levels of linalyl-acetate and linalool by over 50% - The yield of the oil may vary considerably from one season to the next; the age of the bushes and the weather affect both the quantity and quality of the product. Research gaps -new varieties adapted to local fields – for ex a new variety resistant in drought and diseases, never watered and fertilized was created L. angustifoliavaretherio from native Greek plants

Areas of origin and current cultivation Widely naturalized and widely cultivated. Commercially cultivated in eastern and northern Europe and the United States of America. Bulgaria (140 ha in 2002), Latvia (30ha), UK (~ 100ha), Hungary (~ 50-150ha), Poland (organic 2 ha). In Germany, the cultivation of peppermint leaf (Mentha x piperita) has a very long tradition. (400 ha). Plant material of interest according to Ph Eur:dried leaves and volatile oil Mentha x piperita L.(Lamiaceae) (peppermint)‏

Growing conditions – input requirements -Mentha x piperita is a hybrid mint, a cross between Mentha aquatica and Mentha spicata. It is a perennial herb -Plant vegetation begins in early spring at temperatures of 3-5ºC, mint stolons being resistant up to -20°C temperatures. -water is a limiting factor, it demands soil moisture. -pretentious and towards light, because it influences volatile oil accumulation in plants. -grows very well on loose soil, permeable and well-supplied nutrients, but it can be cultivated on any soil, in terms of irrigation.

-valorise good organic fertilizer, because the roots are not well-developed and plant growth rate is very fast. Planting -is multiplied by stolons (stolons quantity harvested per hectare can be a breeding material for 6 ha of new plantation) or by rooting stem cuttings. It is advisable to plant mint either manually (15 to 17 workers/ha) or semi-mechanized (3 workers/ha). Crop management Irrigation on furrow and drip irrigation. Sprinkler irrigation is not recommended.

Diseases Mint crops are associated with large numbers of pests and pathogens that cause substantial damage to crops and considerable loss of oil Logistics (harvesting – handling) until the industrial plant gate Harvest -for essential oil extraction, it must be harvested when 50% of inflorescences are open; if the raw material will be a component of tea, as dry material, then harvested when 30-40% the plants have bloomed.

Yields Average yields are 10-20 t / ha fresh herba respectively 2.5 to 3 t / ha dry herba or 1-3 t / ha of dry leaves. Drying of the plant material will be made in the shade or artificially Distillation -steam distillation. 75% of volatile oil is obtained in the first hour Regulatory status Peppermint leaf is covered by a positive Comission E monograph and is official in the European and British Ph. In US, peppermint does have generally recognized as safe (GRAS) status. Standards specifications have been published for oil (ISO 856:2006) and dried leaves (ISO 5563:1984)‏

Major chemical constituents: essential oil (0.5–4%), which contains menthol (30–55%) and menthone (14–32%) and flavones. The highest amount of menthol was found in Greek peppermint oil (39,5%) and the smallest amount in Russian oil (1,5%). Estonian, French and Hungarian oils contained 31,6-35,8% of menthol, Belgian and Ukrainian oils 17,6% and 24,4%, respectively. Pharmacologic activity for peppermint herb Antimicrobial, choleretic, anti-oedema, analgesic activity Pharmacologic activity for peppermint oil Antimicrobial, antispasmodic activity, antifoaming activity

Other uses: -essential oil is used in perfumery and as ingredient of oral hygiene preparations, toiletries etc. -The whole plant repels insects, rats etc. Factors restricting growth and yielding potential -flavonoid pattern is influenced by the day lenght

-the numbers of harvests/ year influence yield and composition of oil. The essential oil from the first harvest is richer in menthol and in the second harvest all the leaves have a higher menthone and lower menthol content. Harvesting of peppermint only once at the stage of full bloom give the maximum oil yield of good quality. Research gaps -designing of new varieties with enhanced resistance against fungal attack and abiotic stress; somatic hybridization was aimed either at modifying the composition of the oil or at combining essential oil quality with disease resistance

Areas of origin and current cultivation Originally from Europe and northern and central Asia, Plantago lanceolata is now cosmopolitan. Is a native species in most of the European countries Plant material of interest according to Ph Eur:dried leaves Growing conditions – input requirements -perennial rosette herb -high ecological plasticity -moderate demands regarding soil and climatic factors. -resist well in drought and cold winters. Plantago lanceolata L. (Plantaginaceae) (ribwort plantain)‏

Plantingby seeds in autumn or spring Crop management -exploits nutrients from fertilizer, bringing special production increases. Pest and diseases In plantain crops have not noticed important diseases or pests.

Logistics (harvesting – handling) until the industrial plant gate Harvest Leaves should be harvested when they reached technical maturity, before flower strains develop. The first harvest will be in May, and until autumn there will be 3-4 more harvests. Drying can be done in the shade or artificially, maximum temperature 45-50ºC. Drying efficiency is 6:1. Yields The annual production which can be obtained is about 10-12 tonnes of fresh leaves/ ha and 1.5 to 2 tonnes/ ha of dry leaves, respectively.

Regulatory status Ribwort plantain leaf complies with the monograph of the European and British Pharmacopoeia for ribwort plantain. Major chemical constituents: mucilage polysaccharides, iridoid glycosides (principally aucubin and catalpol) and not less than 1.5 percent of total ortho-dihydroxycinnamic acid derivatives, expressed as acteoside. Pharmacological activity Ribwort plantain herb exert anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, spasmolytic and immunostimulatory effects. The seeds are used in the treatment of parasitic worms.

Other uses: A good fibre is obtained from the leaves → suitable for textiles. A mucilage from the seed coats is used as a fabric stiffener. Gold and brown dyes are obtained from the whole plant. The seed mucilage is an excellent thickener used in cosmetics (e.g. in lotions and hair wave sets) and as a stabilizer in the ice-cream and chocolate industry. The seeds can be used as a source of a low-cost gelling agent for tissue culture. The quality is comparable to that of agar, but at about 10% of the cost. activity against plant-parasitic nematodes.

it is currently being marketed as a stop smoking aid as it is said that it causes an aversion to tobacco. Leaves are sometimes eaten as vegetable; the plant is occasionally grown as a fodder crop and considered to be of better quality than P. major ‏Research gaps -P. lanceolata may be transformed by Rhizobium rhizogenes in order to synthesize phenylethanoid heterosides in the roots of seedlings fed with cinnamic acid.

WP 1 Task 1.4 Other specialty crops Task leader: Alice Grigore