Compatible Economic Development in the Rocky Mountain Region: Diversifying Agricultural Income with Cultivation Techniques for Osha

Recipient Organization
HEALING PLANET HERBS, INC.
(N/A)
STREAMBOAT SPRINGS,CO 80477

Performing Department
(N/A)

Non Technical Summary
Rural communities throughout the Rocky Mountain region are in need of diversified, value-added crops to bolster a declining agricultural sector. The goal of this project is to demonstrate scaled-up field production of Osha root and to lay a foundation for long-term producer viability.

Animal Health Component

100%

Research Effort Categories

Basic

(N/A)

Applied

100%

Developmental

(N/A)

Classification

Knowledge Area (KA)	Subject of Investigation (SOI)	Field of Science (FOS)	Percent
125	2220	1060	30%
511	2220	2000	50%
801	6030	3080	20%

Knowledge Area
511 - New and Improved Non-Food Products and Processes; 125 - Agroforestry; 801 - Individual and Family Resource Management;

Subject Of Investigation
2220 - Medicinal crops, non-narcotic; 6030 - The farm as an enterprise;

Field Of Science
1060 - Biology (whole systems); 2000 - Chemistry; 3080 - Sociology;

Goals / Objectives
Our goal is to demonstrate that harvest quantities of Osha root can be produced efficiently by producers at multiple sites in the Yampa River Valley, using several candidate production systems. Scaled-up field trials at these sites will demonstrate the complete vertical production of the crop. Further, we will establish the foundation for a cooperative producer's network, with strategies to ensure acceptable yield, sustainability, chemical potency, cost efficiency, quality control and assurance, and market potential of the crop, thus laying the groundwork for full-scale commercialization.

Project Methods
At the heart of our effort is the development of a producer network through a participatory planning process, beginning with a core group of producers in the Yampa River Valley. These producers will conduct field trials of different production systems, gathering data on yield and cost and process efficiency. We also will rely on oversight from an advisory board of experts from the fields of rural sociology, agricultural economics and business, quality control science, conservation, horticulture, marketing and legal and regulatory issues in the natural products industry. During the planning stages, interactions among advisors and producers will be especially useful in developing a solid foundation of expertise and on-the-ground knowledge. Using such a process, we plan to build a stong model for economic development across the region.

Progress 10/01/04 to 09/30/05

Outputs
Our Phase II goal was to demonstrate commercial-scale production systems for Osha (Ligusticum porteri). We defined success by eight objectives, covering all aspects of production. During the first 12 months of the project, we report significant progress toward all our objectives as well as innovative strategies to meet new challenges and stay on track for successful commercialization in fall 2006. We maintained field trials that show significant growth rates for cultivation as well as significant survival and vigor for nursery-grown seedlings. We developed a Go-To-Market report that identifies strategies to ensure our crop would be guaranteed premium pricing. We conducted a comprehensive literature search to identify all characteristic and potentially bio-active compounds of the crop and develop an efficient biochemnical assay for these compounds. We developed and field tested harvest and post-harvest processing protocols to meet industry expectations for quality control and assurance. And, we pursued a plan for 3rd-party organic and sustainable certification of the crop.

Impacts
Phase II success will lead to commercialization of a regional network focused on sustainable, high-quality Osha production. The species benefits from ecologically-sound production practices. Producers and communities benefit from diversified, value-added crop systems that can be duplicated across the region. The natural products industry benefits from availability of a reliable, continuous source of a valued botanical with significant untapped potential. And, consumers benefit from a guaranteed supply of products based on high-quality standards.

Publications

No publications reported this period