Automation and Optimization of a Pilot Scale Ginseng Cultivation Process

人参是一种多种作用的草药，具有多种健康益处，是一种非常有价值的商业作物。ManyGinseng产品作为天然保健品或膳食补充剂在加拿大和美国销售。种植人参有很多问题，导致生产成本很高。经过18个月的种子预处理，人参从播种到收获需要3到4年的时间。此外，人参易受许多毁灭性疾病的影响。在这个拟议的项目中，Western phytocetica Inc. （WPC）将与Lambton College的生物工业过程研究中心（BPRC）合作，使用高度可控的温室和科学的生长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，用于国内和国际市场的干燥和新鲜销售，以及用于营养保健生产的饲料。b)检查室内人参栽培的相关问题，以优化栽培条件c)检查植物根和叶材料中的生物活性物质，以确定质量。该项目的成果将用于开发一种可重复的方法，以在该地区高效经济地生产人参。这将有可能形成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. 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.