2009-11-20
SRC Promoting Nutraceutical Industry Through ‘Yes Invest’
Launch of SRC ‘YES INVEST’ Initiative
Executive Director of the Scientific Research council (SRC), Dr. Audia Barnett (2nd right), explains the composition of one of the exhibits on display to Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Industry, Investment and Commerce, Reginald Budhan (right), during the launch of the Council’s ‘YES INVEST’ initiative at the Devonshire Restaurant, Devon House on November 3. Also perusing the exhibits is President of Jamaica Trade and Invest (JTI) Sancia Templer (2nd left).
The Scientific Research Council (SRC) has moved to position the nutraceutical industry as a viable business option for current and prospective entrepreneurs, as well as a platform to promote and advance healthy lifestyles in Jamaica.
The Council, on November 3), launched its YES INVEST initiative at the Devonshire Restaurant, Devon House, St. Andrew, which aims to introduce and generate entrepreneurial interest at various levels, in the nutraceutical industry.
Nutraceutical is any naturally developed food supplement or product from which the body can benefit significantly.
In outlining the project, the SRC’s Executive Director, Dr. Audia Barnett, explained that the initiative resulted from an Organization of American States (OAS)/Government of Jamaica-funded research, which the agency conducted on nutraceuticals some six years.
“We wanted to establish a nutraceuticals industry in Jamaica, mainly because, when you looked at world trends, you saw the fantastic growth of nutraceuticals. We felt that Jamaica was ideally placed, and we have a wide diversity of plants. At the time, we wanted to look at plants already in the public domain so we looked at sorrel, lemon grass, turmeric, ginger and rosemary, (and) we found some fantastic facts about our own local products,” she stated.
Against the background of the research results, Dr. Barnett said lemon grass, commonly known as fever grass, was selected as a spring board for the YES INVEST initiative.
“We selected lemon grass, because it’s so easy to grow. It’s already in the public domain… and it has this beautiful, wonderful, revitalising aroma. We felt that was a good one to start because we want to really kick off an essential oils industry in Jamaica,” she explained.
Citing opportunities with ginger, allspice, pimento, different types of mint, rosemary, and sweet basil, she pointed out that: “there are so many different plants that we can look at, in terms of essential oils. We wanted to… put together a model for you so that you could now not only use the lemon grass as an entry point, but you could also use lessons learnt from it to look at other activities with other plants.”
The SRC head advised that the agency is being supported in the venture by several other agencies including the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries; Jamaica Trade and Invest (JTI); Caribbean Agricultural Research and Development Institute (CARDI); Jamaica Business Development Corporation (JBDC); and Churches Cooperative Credit Union Limited.
JTI President, Mrs. Sancia Templer, who spoke on behalf of Industry, Investment and Commerce Minister, Hon. Karl Samuda, commended the SRC on its move in leading Jamaica’s research and development agenda into new areas that facilitate the use of local products in the expansion of investments and exports, and, ultimately, economic growth.
She stated that the JTI was keen on working closely with the SRC “in promoting the export and development of these products.”
“We have said to them, ‘we stand ready to work with you, hand in hand, shoulder to shoulder to package and take these investments to market’,” Mrs. Templer added.