I just had to add this comment.
Next week the European Sea buckthorn industry has its bi-annual conference, Euroworks 2014 in Finland. Delegates include a mix of growers; processors and manufacturers; researchers and members that represent the International Sea buckthorn Association. This is a very focused conference covering three topics.
The control of the threat posed by the sea buckthorn fly which can devastate a sea buckthorn plantation. The fly is more prevalent in Asia that Europe, but it is a growing problem. Then we have an overview of cultivation technology and its challenges. As important as the fly, improving crop agronomy and technology increases the size and quality of the crop. Controlling the costs of production is important as the sea buckthorn industry grows. Delivering value to the consumer is key, but the consumer sees value as value for money and improving harvesting methodology particularly would be a significant step forward.
The final session is on standards. Does the sea buckthorn industry need to develop quality standards? This is my area of concern. Standards can work in two ways. They can be a blunt instrument that just defines what nutritional quality products have. This would focus growers to provide a set quality of fruit; processors to nurture those nutrients through manufacturing; and provide consumers with the idea of the benefits that come with sea buckthorn. It creates a common standard. But it also reduces choice. If everyone produces to the same standard, the product becomes the same. Sea buckthorn is a plant of six species, 12 sub-species; its growing environment changes its nutrient concentration and taste; there are growing numbers of commercial varieties that deliver to local tastes and needs; then for the grower there is the issue of annual weather over which you have no control. With climate change this is becoming even more of a factor. So put all these together and there is huge diversity in the character of what sea buckthorn is.
Standards are good as they give buyers’ of product a confidence that the product they are buying is what they want. But setting standards for natural products is not so easy.
So it proves to be an interesting week.
