Automation and Optimization of a Pilot Scale Ginseng Cultivation Process

人参是一种多功能草药，具有许多健康益处，是一种非常有价值的经济作物。许多 ** 人参产品在加拿大和美国作为天然保健品或膳食补充剂销售。有许多与种植人参相关的问题导致非常高的生产成本。经过18个月的种子预处理后，人参从种植到收获可能需要3或4年的时间。此外，人参 ** 易受一些毁灭性疾病的影响。在这个拟议的项目中，Western Phytoceutica Inc. (WPC)将与兰顿学院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的生长问题，其中生长条件（温度，pH值，营养，** 水，光照和生长介质）都可以控制和分析。该项目预计将取得三个主要成果：**a）种植人参，在国内外干鲜市场上销售，并作为饲料 ** 用于营养保健品生产。B）研究室内人参栽培的问题，以优化栽培条件。c）检查植物的根和叶材料中的生物活性物质，以确定质量。该项目的结果将用于开发一种可重复的方法，以在该地区有效和经济地生产人参。这将可能导致一个全面的人参生产设施，这将提供经济增长，高质量的就业机会，出口增长和提高全球竞争力。

Ginseng is a multi-action herb with a host of health benefits which is a very valuable commercial crop. Many**Ginseng 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 take**up to 3 or 4 years from planting to harvest after an 18-month seed pre-treatment. Additionally, ginseng is**susceptible to a number of devastating diseases.**In this proposed project, Western Phytoceutica Inc. (WPC) will collaborate with Lambton College's**Bio-industrial Process Research Centre (BPRC) using a highly controlled greenhouse and science-based**growing 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 main**outcomes:**a) To grow ginseng for sale in the dried and fresh domestic and international market as well as for feed stock**for nutraceutical production.**b) To examine the issues surrounding indoor ginseng cultivation in order to optimize the cultivation**conditions.**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 economical**production of ginseng in the region. This will potentially result in a full-scale ginseng production facility which**will provide economic growth, high quality employment opportunities, export growth and increased global**competitiveness.