Grants and Contributions:

Grant or Award spanning more than one fiscal year. (2017-2018 to 2019-2020)

Ginseng is a multi-action herb with a host of health benefits which is a very valuable commercial crop. Manyx000D
Ginseng products are marketed in Canada and the U.S as natural health supplements or dietary supplements.x000D
There are many issues associated with growing ginseng that cause very high production costs. Ginseng can takex000D
up to 3 or 4 years from planting to harvest after an 18-month seed pre-treatment. Additionally, ginseng isx000D
susceptible to a number of devastating diseases.x000D
In this proposed project, Western Phytoceutica Inc. (WPC) will collaborate with Lambton College'sx000D
Bio-industrial Process Research Centre (BPRC) using a highly controlled greenhouse and science-basedx000D
growing methods to solve the ginseng growth issues, where the growing conditions (temperature, pH, nutrients,x000D
water, light and growth media) can all be controlled and analyzed. This project is expected to obtain three mainx000D
outcomes:x000D
a) To grow ginseng for sale in the dried and fresh domestic and international market as well as for feed stockx000D
for nutraceutical production.x000D
b) To examine the issues surrounding indoor ginseng cultivation in order to optimize the cultivationx000D
conditions.x000D
c) To examine the bioactives that are in the root and leaf material of the plant to ascertain quality.x000D
The results of this project will be used to develop a reproducible method for the efficient and economicalx000D
production of ginseng in the region. This will potentially result in a full-scale ginseng production facility whichx000D
will provide economic growth, high quality employment opportunities, export growth and increased globalx000D
competitiveness.