Projects

Bhutan Medicinal Plants Phase II

2006 update

2004-2008, EuropeAid/116552/C/SV/IN

ECTF has been awarded a four year contract to support the Royal Government of Bhutan in a medicinal plants project funded by EuropeAid. The specific objectives of the ECTF contract managed by LTS are to provide:

  • Technical Assistance for the implementation, planning, monitoring and reporting project components,
  • Specific technical expertise relating to the cultivation of aromatic and medicinal plants, the preparation of business plans and launching of commercial operations, and provide inputs in horticulture, legal aspects in biodiversity, TRIPS, protection of traditional knowledge and NTFPs etc.

The overall objectives of the medicinal plant project itself are:

  • to conserve medicinal plant resources in high altitude areas of Bhutan;
  • to improve the incomes, employment opportunities and livelihoods of rural communities in high altitude areas;
  • to strengthen the organisation, management and cost-effectiveness of the medicinal plants industry;
  • and, to enhance the availability of high quality medicinal plant products and traditional medicines for both the internal and external markets.

Partners in this project are the Royal Botanic Garden, Edinburgh, and the Universities of Edinburgh and Strathclyde. The core technical team consists of a Team Leader, a Horticulturist, a Pharmacognisist, and a Marketing Specialist.

The project started in October 2004 and is well underway following an initial six months inception period. Under the direction of the Team Leader in Bhutan, and the Project Director at LTS (currently Alex Forbes, previously Peter Bailey), the project has successfully prepared the overall and annual workplans as per EU requirements. Work started on the research into plant domestication, implementation of a cultivation programme and initiative of growers associations in two regions. This has also been supported by three missions under the TA Horticulture between October 2004 and July 2005 as well as a first mission by the pharmacognicist in April/May 2005. The development of internal and export markets was investigated through an initial mission by the marketing specialist in Jan/Feb 2005. The Team Leader has supported capacity building initiatives through study tours and mentoring.

Key inputs for the second half of 2005 are completion of the commercialisation strategy and marketing strategies and a training needs assessment linked to the implementation of these strategies. In addition, there is a need to secure and provide short-term TA inputs in addressing Cordyceps sinensis support in introducing relevant management information systems (MIS), pharmaceutical analysis (Strathclyde University), and a legal expert to investigate issues relating to bio-prospecting and intellectual property rights. We are drawing on our wide range of expertise within the ECTF member organisations for these inputs.

2006 Update

The technical assistance managed by ECTF covers herbal plant supply, extraction of ingredients, developing a new processing plant, and implementing a commercialization strategy that includes product development and marketing for both domestic and export markets. During the last 6 months, the technical assistance has been provided by the team leader(Dr. Gunter Rustler), the horticulturalist (Dr. Irmela Krug), the marketing specialist( Liz Betser) and the Pharmacognocist -Ethnobotanist( Dr. William Milliken).

In addition newly recruited short term specialists have provided their initial inputs over the last few months. These have been a product development specialist (cosmetic specialist) who is helping develop products for export, short term Good Manufacturing Practice specialists who were assessing and advising on existing processing practices and a Management of Information Systems specialist who was developing a software system to help keep track of all the financial and material flows in the project.

The Horticulturalist (Dr Irmela Krug) replaced the previous horticulturalist Jessica Beaghen. Irmela took over the reigns from the previous consultant for this position and partly due to her familiarity with the work (she held a similar position in phase 1 of the project), the country( she has 10 years experience in the country) she integrated into the team and her work challenges remarkably well.

A major achievement by the Technical Assistance team and especially the team leader in the last 6 months has been the submission of a commercialisation business strategy to the Royal Government of Bhutan who subsequently approved it. This strategy marks out the steps towards restructuring the government department in preparation for a transition to a privatised corporation.

As well has new members joining the team, we are sad to say that there are some departures. Both the current Team Leader and the Marketing specialist have resigned from their posts. A recruitment process is well under way and potential candidates have been identified and are being assessed by both the EC and the Bhutanese. We hope the replacements will be on board by the end of the year providing sufficient time for handover. We wish both Liz and Gunter success in their new jobs and thank them both for their major contributions to this project.

Short term consultants to be fielded in the next few months include a Legal Specialist who will help prepare the paperwork for the transition to a corporation as well as assist the project with information regarding import regulations for herbal products in various countries throughout the world. In addition it is planned that a pharmacognocist will be sent out to help train the local team on monograph preparations as they develop a catalogue of the herbal plants they are using, a research consultant( from Strathclyde University) will provide guidance on the overall research strategy for the project, and a Good Manufacturing Practice specialist will make a second visit to assist in the planning of the new processing plant.

Because of the diversity and high frequency of specialised inputs, potential contacts for inputs are welcomed by the coordinator of the technical assistance to the project. Please contact Peter O'Hara, Peter-OHara@ltsi.co.uk for more information.