Purdue University Hosts Stimulating Program on Aromatic and Medicinal Plants

From June 19-30, An International Training Program in New Crops: Aromatic and Medicinal Plants drew a truly multicultural group of 37 participants from 16 countries to Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana, USA. The Purdue Horticulture Department's Center for New Crops and Plant Products has hosted the intensive two-week workshop each year since 1993, offering specialized training in aromatic and medicinal plants, essential oils, and the commercialization of botanicals. The program's interdisciplinary perspective attracts people from a variety of backgrounds, including manufacturers, industry representatives, growers, agricultural and new crop researchers, government officers, extension specialists and agents, and others. The Herb Research Foundation of Boulder, Colorado and the University of Illinois College of Pharmacy co-sponsored the program.

Eleven of this year's participants traveled from Africa to take part in the event, including five people from South Africa, two from Madagascar, and one each from Nigeria, Tanzania, Egypt, and Malawi. The Purdue program " will help me to build on the strengths of the communities and people in Africa with whom I work," commented Jackie Goliath of the South African Agricultural Research Council (ARC), an organization that provides research and technology services to rural and commercial farmers in Africa. "Africa has many plant products with potential economic value. It is important to me as an African individual to do as much as possible to create employment, empowerment, and trade in my country."

The overwhelming feedback of other participants was that the Purdue program "substantially exceeded" their expectations. Attendees were particularly impressed with the broad scope of information presented and the way the curriculum "led us through all stages of medicinal plant processing, from planting to creating a useable and marketable product." Highlights of this year's program included field trips to large-scale mint and ginseng farms, a tour of the laboratories at a large wholesale botanical trading company, and a visit to the Hoosier National Forest to view native populations of goldenseal and ginseng. Attendees were also impressed with Purdue's new state-of-the-art greenhouse facilities, which are monitored by computer, allowing researchers to adjust conditions via an Internet connection anywhere in the world.

Beginning in 2001, An International Training Program in New Crops will move with founder and director Jim Simon, PhD to Rutgers University in New Jersey, USA. For information on next year's curriculum, contact Dr. Simon at (732) 932-1766. - Krista Morien, Herb Research Foundation

The Herb Research Foundation is pleased to present the third issue of A-SNAPP Update, a weekly online newsletter for African growers and producers, A-SNAPP partners, international buyers, and others interested in the A-SNAPP project. We need your input to make A-SNAPP Update a success! In particular, we are seeking stories on individual African farms and businesses, traditional African medicine, protection of endangered African plants, and other issues important to you and your business. If you would like to be profiled as a featured business in A-SNAPP Update or have an idea for a story, please contact Krista Morien at kmorien@herbs.org.