Grant: Applied Research and Development Grants - Level 2

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