Commercial Cultivation of Chinese Medicinal Plants in Germany

Successful result of innovative applied research

Innovative farmers in southern Germany cultivate high-value medicinal crops targeting new markets. This is not only to secure farmers income but even more it contributes to reliable supply and safety of herbal products by properly documented local field cultivation and complete traceability.

For the first time in Germany, professional planting of medicinal plants applied in the Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) commenced in spring 2005. Two herbal wholesalers China-Medica GmbH, Tegernsee, and SinoRes GmbH, Lüneburg, commissioned farmers to cultivate seven herbs species. In 2005 the experienced farmers Thomas Burk, Gerhard Frieß and Karl and Thomas Pfeiffer produced raw herbs on 3 ha. In 2007, the cultivation was extended to 4 ha and five farmers were supplying more wholesalers. Presently, the growing area had to be reduced due to hesitant demand by the wholesalers despite all positive premises for the locally produced herbal material.

In 1999 the Bavarian State Research Center for Agriculture (LfL, Prof. Bomme) broke new ground in Europe with the interdisciplinary research project for field cultivation of CHM-herbs in cooperation with several agencies. The Bavarian Ministry of Agriculture and since 2004 also the Agency of Renewable Resources financed the project. It included systematic basic and agronomic research of 18 selected herb species. The partners of this project are: the Department of Pharmacognosy (University of Graz, Prof. Bauer), the Institute of Systematic Botany (LMU University of Munich, Prof. Heubl), the Association for the Documentation of Chinese Herbal Therapy (DECA, Dr. Friedl), the International Society for Chinese Medicine (SMS, Dr. Hummelsberger, Dr. Nögel), the hospitals SiLiMa (Riedering, Dr. Friedl) and Klinik am Steigerwald (Gerolzhofen, Dr. Schmincke), as well as the Bavarian State Research Stations in Triesdorf (LLA, Mr. Geißendörfer) and the breeding company Saatzucht Steinach (Steinach, Dr. Eickmeyer). The companies PhytoLab (Vestenbergsgreuth, Dr. Kabelitz, Mrs. Höhne, Dr. Groß, Dr. Schmücker) and Kräuter Mix (Abtswind, Dr. Torres-Londono, Mrs. Friedmann) systematically compared the pharmaceutical and sensory quality of imported and experimentally produced herbs since 2004. For more details see “Bomme,U., Bauer, R., Friedl, F., Heuberger, H., Heubl, G., Torres-Londono, P., Hummelsberger, J. (2007): Cultivating Chinese Medicinal Plants in Germany: A Pilot Project. The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine 13 (6): 597-601”.

Research, consultation and practice are closely linked

Ten years of interdisciplinary research and pioneers on the farmers and wholesalers side enabled the successful transfer from experimental cultivation to the first stage of field practice and commercial trade of local CHM herbs. In 2005, under regular consultation with LfL, a pilot cultivation commissioned by herbal wholesalers was initiated for Artemisia scoparia, Leonurus japonicus, Sigesbeckia pubescens (herb crops) as well as Angelica dahurica, Salvia miltiorrhiza, Saposhnikovia divaricata and Scutellaria baicalensis (root crops). Astragalus mongholicus (membranaceus) was included into the range of species in 2007. The farmers are experienced specialists that professionally cultivate and process European herbs like Echinacea, St. John’s wort, peppermint or lemon balm on a large scale.

Local production ensures quality

According to the presently available results, it can be assumed that beside the correct botanical identity, herbs grown under German field conditions can meet high standards with regard to required constituent and extractives content, ash content, microbiological and heavy metal contamination and taste (sensory) attributes (see “Heuberger, H., Bomme, U., Friedmann, B., Groß, J., Kabelitz, L., Reif, K., Schmücker, R., Torres-Londono, P. (2008): Drogenqualität chinesischer Heilpflanzen aus bayerischem Versuchsanbau im Vergleich zu Importware: Identität, sensorische Eigenschaften, Inhaltsstoffe und Reinheit. Chinesische Medizin 23 (3): 119-135”.).
The cultivated herb samples frequently showed more intense taste than the imported and most likely older herbs.
Based on this outcome of the quality check Dr. Nögel, president of SMS, recommended the use of locally produced CHM herbs to the members of the International Society for Chinese Medicine:
Due to the observed positive course of clinical applications, it can’t be objected to use locally produced CHM herbs. The local root raw material may look different from imported material, which is, however, not affecting the pharmaceutical quality ("Nögel, R. (2008), Chinesische Medizin, 23 (2): 107.”).
Local medicinal herb cultivation offers many advantages.

The high quality and hygiene standards which accompany farming, harvesting and processing (including soil testing, e.g. for cadmium before cultivation of Cd accumulating plant species) in Europe, together with the strict German pesticide, remedy and food regulations reduce contamination to a minimum and improve quality control. Treatment of medicinal herbs with ionizing radiation is prohibited in Germany. Additionally, because the production site is close, it can be controlled at any time.

Well established crops of CHM plants can now be found on farmers’ fields in Bavaria (Southern Germany). To reach this stage, a lot of efforts had to be made. For example, already the first step of acquiring seed for all species was very difficult. The challenge continued with the identification of suitable accessions of high constituent contents, satisfying yield and robust nature as well as their seed propagation and the development of an efficient and environmentally sound cultivation method. The successful outcome is based on the commitment of all people involved.

Don’t miss the chance for a sustainable development of local production!

All consumers – wholesalers, physicians, pharmacies etc. – are called to use this unique opportunity and regard this pilot cultivation as a kick-off for supply with high quality herbal material. However, orders for larger quantities are required to realize an economic and continuous field cultivation using professional large scale processing plants. At the same time, consultation by LfL as well as the creativity and experience of the farmers will still be required.

We strongly advise against spontaneous cultivation without a known consumer as well as without precise knowledge about the seed provenance, its botanical identity and the production method. Field cultivation is only safe using the accessions approved by LfL (BLBP accessions)! The small plantlet of the first controlled and documented cultivation of Chinese medicinal plants in Germany can now only turn into a perennial if all efforts are jointly focused on the production of high quality herbal material. To maintain the enormous knowledge of the research project and the great specific experience meanwhile accumulated by the farmers, the demand for the local CHM herbs must be translated into orders and increased as soon as possible! Finally, these dedicated farmers with their agricultural companies have to operate economically, else, they will return to cultivate European medicinal and aromatic plants exclusively.

Contacts for „local CHM herbs“

Farmers
Mr. Gerhard Frieß
Kräuterhof Gerhard Frieß
Anbaugemeinschaft Heilpflanzen Rother Land
Beerbach 28
D-91183 Abenberg
Germany
Phone: 0049 (0)9873 94981
Fax: 0049 (0)9873 94982
Handy 0049 (0)170 4840941
E-Mail: Friess-Heilpflanzen@t-online.de

Wholesalers
Mr. Thomas Bachhuber
China-Medica GmbH
Perronstr. 5
D-83684 Tegernsee
Germany
Phone: 0049 (0)8022 706469
Fax: 0049 (0)8022 706471
E-Mail: info@china-medica.de

Mr. Hans-Jürgen Löschner
SinoRes Warenhandelsgesellschaft mbH
Habichtsweg 17
D-21337 Lüneburg
Germany
Phone: 0049 (0)4131 49237 and 0049 (0)4131 731347
Fax: 0049 (0)4131 404672
E-Mail: SinoRes@t-online.de

Commercial crop of Saposhnikovia divaricata in Germany

Commercial crop of Salvia miltiorrhiza in Germany

Commercial crop of Scutellaria baicalensis in Germany

CHM herbs made in Germany passed the professional visual check

Dried roots of Scutellaria baicalensis, Huangqin,
showing the typical yellow color

Dried herb of Leonurus japonicus, Yimucao,
with high leaf portion and fresh green color

zum Seitenanfang

September 2009
Prof. Dr. Ulrich Bomme, Dr. Heidi Heuberger
Bayerische Landesanstalt für Landwirtschaft
Institut für Pflanzenbau und Pflanzenzüchtung
Tel.: 08161/71-3637 • Fax: 08161/71-4102