On some farms traditional agricultural crops such as grain and sugar beets will be replaced by rosehip and chicory destined for use as plant medicine.

Research and practical farming go hand in hand when it comes to establishing farm-to-pharmacy production. Centre leader John Juul Henriksen from Development Centre Aarslev situated at the Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, University of Aarhus, can relate two concrete cases where farmers have established productions of, respectively, rosehip and chicory.

- The market for plant-based products with bioactive components for natural medicine, health products, the food ingredient industry and feed additives is experiencing rapid growth worldwide, says John Juul Henriksen.

- Hyben Vital and DanCikorie are examples of businesses that are well on their way with special products for this market. Common for both of them is the fact that their products are based on knowledge created within the companies and in the world of science. They are shining examples of how far-sighted and diligent farmers can transfer science to business, he continues.

Rosehips battle rheumatism

In the 1980s, Erik ’Farmer’ Hansen got the idea that the fruits from the rosehip plant could have a therapeutic effect. A small production of rosehip powder was gathered and sold directly to friends and acquaintances. After a while the demand was so great that in 1996 production and processing facilities were built on Langeland. The following year the new company Hyben Vital planted a total of 135 ha with rosehip plants.

Several scientific studies show that the product from Hyben Vital has a positive effect on both rheumatism and arthritis. Sales and distribution of the product in Europe and 14 overseas countries are in full swing.

Chicory for pigs and pets

The days are numbered for sugar beet production. Therefore, a group of interested parties from the island of Funen, including farmers, contractors, feed suppliers and scientists, turned their gaze on chicory production. They established a project group to investigate the possibilities for replacing sugar beet production on Funen with chicory root production.

- The chicory plant was chosen because of its similarity to beets with regard to production and, primarily, because of a series of scientific publications that demonstrate the plant’s potential in swine production in particular, explains John Juul Henriksen.

In 2006 the company DanCikorie ApS was established and offers interested investors the chance to participate in development of a new business area in which the focus is on growing, processing and use of chicory. DanCikorie ApS buys chicory roots from the growers and processes them, producing a dried product that is mainly used in feed for farm animals (especially pigs) and pets.

In 2006 the production of chicory roots took up about 10 ha on West Funen. That area has increased to about 25 ha in 2007 and the plan is that in 2008 the total chicory root area will approach 100 ha.

For more information please contact: Centre leader John Juul Henriksen, Development Centre Aarslev, Kirstinebjergvej 10, DK-5792, Aarslev, telephone: +45 8999 3341, e-mail: john.henriksen@agrsci.dk

Photo: Hyben Vital