Automation and Optimization of a Pilot Scale Ginseng Cultivation Process

人参是一种具有多种功效的草本植物，具有多种保健功能，是一种非常有价值的经济作物。ManyGinseng产品在加拿大和美国作为天然健康补充剂或膳食补充剂销售。种植人参有许多相关问题，导致生产成本非常高。经过18个月的种子预处理后，人参从种植到采收可能需要3到4年的时间。在这个拟议的项目中，Western Phytoceutica Inc.(WPC)将与Lambton College的生物工业过程研究中心(BPRC)合作，使用高度受控的温室和基于科学的种植方法来解决人参生长问题，其中生长条件(温度、pH、养分、水、光和生长介质)都可以控制和分析。该项目预计将获得三个主要成果：a)种植人参，在国内和国际市场上销售，以及作为营养食品生产的饲料。b)研究室内人参种植的问题，以优化栽培条件。c)检测植物根和叶材料中的生物活性，以确定质量。该项目的结果将用于开发一种可重复使用的方法，在该地区高效和经济地生产人参。这可能会导致一个全面的人参生产设施，它将带来经济增长、高质量的就业机会、出口增长和增强的全球竞争力。

Ginseng is a multi-action herb with a host of health benefits which is a very valuable commercial crop. ManyGinseng products are marketed in Canada and the U.S as natural health supplements or dietary supplements.There are many issues associated with growing ginseng that cause very high production costs. Ginseng can takeup to 3 or 4 years from planting to harvest after an 18-month seed pre-treatment. Additionally, ginseng issusceptible to a number of devastating diseases.In this proposed project, Western Phytoceutica Inc. (WPC) will collaborate with Lambton College'sBio-industrial Process Research Centre (BPRC) using a highly controlled greenhouse and science-basedgrowing methods to solve the ginseng growth issues, where the growing conditions (temperature, pH, nutrients,water, light and growth media) can all be controlled and analyzed. This project is expected to obtain three mainoutcomes:a) To grow ginseng for sale in the dried and fresh domestic and international market as well as for feed stockfor nutraceutical production.b) To examine the issues surrounding indoor ginseng cultivation in order to optimize the cultivationconditions.c) To examine the bioactives that are in the root and leaf material of the plant to ascertain quality.The results of this project will be used to develop a reproducible method for the efficient and economicalproduction of ginseng in the region. This will potentially result in a full-scale ginseng production facility whichwill provide economic growth, high quality employment opportunities, export growth and increased globalcompetitiveness.