N°65 -- Ingrédients /Plantes Transparence ◗ A strong-growth ◗ Iteipmai Transparency agricultural sector Founded in 1980, iteipmai is the interprofes- The French production of medicinal plants sional French research institute dedicated to Synadiet a invité les membres de la is booming. It is one of the few agricultural the medicinal, aromatic and perfume plants. mission du Sénat sur sectors that develops supported by market It has been certified by the Ministry of Agri- le développement evolutions, new usages and growth prospects. culture and counts 125 members (50/50 agri- de l’herboristerie cultural/industrial sector). Its mission is to et des plantes (ce Thus, the cultivation of medicinal, aromatic and numéro, rubrique perfume plants (PPAM) has increased by 40% contribute to the development of medicinal, Réglementation) à since 2010, covering over 53,000 hectares in aromatic and perfume plant production in «toucher du doigt» la réalité économique total. In France, 120 such species are cultivated metropolitan France and the overseas ter- et industrielle du - upon harvesting, 300 species are collected ritories. To this end, it relies on two agro- secteur des plantes over all. The turnover generated by the pro- nomic experimental stations, a 12-hectare et des compléments land plot I Anjou and 5 hectares in the South alimentaires qui duction of medicinal, aromatic and perfume en contiennent. plants has increased by 85% in 25 years and of France. The key subject on which the insti- Au programme de the number of producers by 25% in 10 years tute focuses is optimizing the concentration leur visite in situ: (according to iteipmai). Promoplantes, of active ingredients. To this end, it relies l’iteipmai, Natinov. Except for poppy, the turnover generated by on a whole set of production links, including Quelques temps the production of medicinal, aromatic and traditional genetics for plant breeding. This après, ce fut au tour de journalistes perfume plants amounts to €4.097 million accounts for half of its activity. The other half (presse économique according to the survey panels carried out is equally divided between culture protection et professionnelle) amongst producers’ associations. The 21 and offering support to the introduction of de suivre le même parcours. plants most often incorporated in food supple- plants into sectors that do not use them tradi- ments in terms of sales value 2016 account for tionally (for instance, reducing the quantities Synadiet (FrenchFood a turnover of €3.73 million, namely 91% of the of sulphur used in winemaking). In Chemillé, Supplements Association) has global turnover. in Anjou, the experimental station puts into invited the members practice (to be understood cultivates) the 080 of the Senate Mission varieties that fall under the following scope: on the Development ◗ Promoplantes production of seeds for its members (the of Herbal Medicine and Plants (see the Located in Anjou, in the region of Chemillé for centre also acts as a site for the preservation Regulation section in this issue) to 30 years, Promoplantes produces 50 different of plant varieties), genealogical screening “have a fi rst-hand species of plants for the pharmaceutical, cos- (identification of the “elite” so as to develop experience” with metics and food industries (chamomile, vale- the economic and the best - for example, there are 140 vari- industrial reality of therian, burdock, chrysanthemum, mint, lemon eties of lemon balm), testing the varieties sector of plants and balm) (Editor’s note: a total number of 80 to cultivated elsewhere (improving crop yields the food supplements that contain them. 100 species are cultivated based on client and the concentrations of active ingredi- On the program of demand). With 80 hectares cultivated by the ents). The analyses, precisely, are carried out their in situ visit: Promoplantes, company itself and 210 hectares subject to cul- by the laboratory which “processes” 8000 iteipmai, Natinov. tivation contracts (25 local farmers), Promo- samples per year. Specialized in the study of Shortly after, it was plantes produces 200 tonnes of plants (out of journalists’ turn secondary metabolites, it participates in the (economic and which 30% are organic) generating a turnover standardization work carried out by AFNOR professional press) of €1 million (out of which 30% on exports). (French National Organisation for Stan- to follow the same itinerary. Laurent Martineau, Managing Director of Pro- dardisation) and the French and European moplantes who also is a Chairman of Iteipmai pharmacopoeias. Assays are performed to and member of the association Phytolia (see establish the concentration of essential oils, Actif’s MagazineIssue No. 64), underlines that to compare various samples, or to analyse “the French production of organic medicinal volatile and non-volatile compounds. Finally, plants is not suf cient to meet the growing iteipmai has a particularly rich documenta- demand of laboratories and manufacturers tion centre and is connected to international (...) Today, 80% of the medicinal plants used bibliographic databases. Unique in Europe, in France are imported.” the centre has over 40,000 bibliographical Hence, the French farmers have a huge poten- references, more than 1500 books, 55 sub- tial to expand to new markets. And a true edu- scriptions to magazines, 7000 reprints of sig- cational process must be conducted among nificant articles, 170 conference proceed- them, as the one already initiated by Phytolia. ings.■ ■ / Octobre - Novembre - Décembre 2018 / N°65 / L’Actualité des Ingrédients Fonctionnels & Santé