Ref # 03 | Year of Award 2003 | Award Value $6,000
Organization BCFN | Status Complete
Project Title
Japan Conference - Challenges and Opportunities for Functional Foods and Natural Health Products in Japan
Brief Project Summary
A conference held on November 24, 2003 which brought together experts in the Japan market for Natural Health Product (NHP) and Functional Food with BC businesses wanting to explore the possibilities in the Japan Market. A one day event, mirrored on the format and success of the China Conference held February, 19, 2003.
Ref # 16 | Year of Award 2003 | Award Value $8,000
Organization SFU | Status On-going
Project Title
Understanding Root Rot Problems (damping-off, Cylindrocarpon, rust) on Ginseng in BC and Developing Control Strategies for Growers
Brief Project Summary
Ginseng grown in BC is affected by root diseases, leading to lost production and reduced quality. Because ginseng production in BC has a short history, relatively little research has been conducted on the underlying causes and possible control measures for these diseases. This project will investigate bio-controls for damping-off, the biology of the cylindrocarpon fungus and factors leading to the development of rusty root. Project investigators are Mr. Mahfuzur Rahman and Dr. Zamir Punja, both of the Dept. of Biological Sciences, SFU.
Ref # 18 | Year of Award 2003 | Award Value $8,000
Organization BCFN | Status Complete
Project Title
Western Canadian Medicinal & Aromatic Plants Conference (WMAPC 2003) in Richmond, BC
Brief Project Summary
A forum held on February 20 - 21, 2003, which brought together more than 80 industry representatives, provided strategic information, strengthened industry networks and focused on emerging health sector opportunities.
Ref # 19 | Year of Award 2003 | Award Value $4,300
Organization BCFN | Status Complete
Project Title
Webcasting of the BCFN Breakfast Seminar Series
Brief Project Summary
Since January 2003, BC industry profits each month by exposure to cutting-edge health science at the BCFN Breakfast Seminars; events of utmost importance for an industry focusing on products with health benefits. Webcasting of the BCFN Breakfast Seminar Series makes the seminars available to the companies in the lower sale classes and/or positioned in other geographical areas than the Greater Vancouver area. Through means of web-technology, the series provided an excellent opportunity for numerous stakeholders from the whole region of health product and functional foods (HPFF) developers, importers, and manufacturers to interact with experts from academia, which ultimately will aid: 1. BC industry to set research priorities for health research 2. Identification and access sources of funding 3. Partnerships for scientific development work addressing the actual health effects.
Ref # 21 | Year of Award 2004 | Award Value $49,115
Organization UBC | Status On-going
Project Title
Germplasm Characterization and Improvement Program for Natural Health Products Grown in British Columbia
Brief Project Summary
Stakeholder confidence in the evaluation of natural health product (NHP) quality is one of the most substantial and intricate problems impacting industry growth. Using Echinacea as a model, our research collaboration will launch a new integrated multi-disciplinary blueprint for breeding, growing, and characterizing consistently highest quality NHPs in accordance with rigorous international standard methods. The resulting elite, authenticated raw materials and validated methods will substantially increase the competitiveness and marketability of standardized BC products.
Ref # 27 | Year of Award 2003 | Award Value $50,000
Organization OUC | Status On-going
Project Title
Improved Extraction Technologies and Isolation of Active Ingredients from Echinacea
Brief Project Summary
New extraction technologies for Echinacea will be examined with the objective of reducing cost, improving efficiency and reducing adverse environmental impacts. Key components will be isolated and purified from Echinacea extracts. The identity and purity of these components will then be verified by mass spectrometry and NMR analysis.
Ref # 29 | Year of Award 2003 | Award Value $50,000
Organization HEAL | Status On-going
Project Title
Natural Health Products Analytical Laboratory Proficiency Program
Brief Project Summary
The BC Health Product and Functional Food (HPFF) industry has suffered a substantial set-back in the last two years as consumers have lost confidence in product quality, spurred by an on-going series of negative media reports on products that do not meet their label claims. Moreover, industry alliance members such as the BC Herb Growers and the BC Ginseng Growers have identified the unreliability in laboratory results as a significant industry barrier which was further demonstrated in 2001 with BCIT's Herbal Evaluation & Analysis Laboratory's laboratory proficiency program sponsored by the British Columbia Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Fisheries (BCMAFF). This Inter-collaborative Proficiency Program will assess three crucial issues in the analysis of natural health products: methods validation, reference materials, and lab proficiency.
Ref # 35 | Year of Award 2004 | Award Value $8,500
Organization BCHGA | Status Complete
Project Title
Comprehensive Website Creation for the BC Herb Growers Association
Brief Project Summary
The newly revised website can be viewed at www.bcherbgrowers.com. A lack of coordinated information that is easily accessible for growers, processors and manufacturers appears to be an underlying problem for the herb and specialty crops associations in British Columbia. The BCHGA worked with Idea Resource Group, a website design company, to create and design a comprehensive "self-registry" website that allows the various stakeholders in the industry to exchange information, link to other relevant organizations and to educate themselves on product quality standards and current market information. The creation of this comprehensive self-registry website will provide support to industry stakeholders to help realize the four strategic goals that have been identified by the Health Product and Functional Food Industry Initiative (HPFFI); enhanced communication and coordination, increased industry marketing and promotion, targeted research and development and growth and expansion of the BC industry.
Ref # 36 | Year of Award 2004 | Award Value $46,500
Organization West Kootenay Medicinal Herb Growers Cooperative | Status On-going
Project Title
Hawthorn Agro-forestry Demonstration Farm Trials: Botanical & Chemical Evaluation of Native BC and Medicinal Varieties of Hawthorn
Brief Project Summary
Native hawthorn grows in abundance in the West Kootenay region and throughout central and southern British Columbia. Natural health product (NHP) manufacturers & distributors that currently import traditional medicinal varieties of hawthorn, Crataegus Laevigata, Crataegus Monogyna, from Eastern Europe have indicated an interest and desire to purchase local, BC grown hawthorn. The botanical & chemical assessment of native BC hawthorn to the development of product quality standards comparable to medicinal European varieties is crucial in establishing the economic value of the Hawthorn produced through the West Kootenay Medicinal Herb Grower's Cooperative's Hawthorn Agro-forestry Demonstration Farm Trials.
Ref # 41 | Year of Award 2005 | Award Value $6,000
Organization BCHGA | Status On-going
Project Title
Revitalizing the BC Herb Growers Association using an Advanced Marketing Approach
Brief Project Summary
The promotion of the BC Herb Growers Association as a leading resource for the production and processing of herbal products (raw botanicals & value added products) will be enhanced by the creation of a contemporary portable trade booth that reflects the BC Herb Growers Association's mandate and services. The use of a professional trade exhibit will not only improve the credibility of the Association but will increase the profile of members in addition to promoting quality BC herbal products. The BC Herb Growers Association wishes to revitalize the Association by refreshing its appearance and by initiating its marketing campaign commencing at the Pacific Agricultural Show in Abbotsford and expanding to other local, national and international trade events such as the Natural Products Expo East in the US thereby promoting the BC herbal product industry in a global realm.
