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The Case for Cultivating Rhodiola rosea

Cultivated Rhodiola rosea - Alberta, Canada

ARRGO is thankful and grateful for the work of Ann Armbrecht and Terrence Youk who have recently released their video – The Case for Cultivating Rhodiola rosea.  Ann is the Director of the Sustainable Herbs Program of the American Botanical Council.  Interviews by Ann and filming and editing by Terry have accurately told the story of what we do and why we do it.  

The detailed research of Josef Brinckmann regarding the status of wild Rhodiola rosea was released earlier this year.  His paper is cited and reviewed in an earlier ARRGO blog.  In the video Dr. Brinckmann discusses the slow growing nature of Rhodiola rosea and how the plants that are wild harvested have been growing for 20-30 years to reach maturity.  ARRGO works with the slow-growing nature of Rhodiola rosea, and has demonstrated maturity under cultivation at 5 years.  Given time to grow, a circumpolar climate, and limited competition from other plants, the cultivated Rhodiola will yield economic returns after 5 years of diligent crop management efforts.

Since 2007 ARRGO applauds and supports the pioneering and inventive spirit of the members of our growers cooperative.  We have learned enough to make it work, and there is much more to discover, to be amazed by and surprised by, as we continue to work with this amazing adaptogen. 

ARRGO also recognizes that it is essential to share our knowledge with others who are keen to cultivate Rhodiola rosea sustainably.  ARRGO openly collaborates with the Alaska Rhodiola Growers, as well as grassroots efforts in the provinces of New Brunswick and Quebec.  There is room for many as the worldwide demand for Rhodiola rosea increases. 

ARRGO looks forward to working with companies and their customers who demand purity, sustainability and a stable supply chain.  Thank you for supporting the ARRGO Farmers and for making cultivated Rhodiola rosea truly sustainable.

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FairWild Week and wildharvested Rhodiola rosea

Harvesting wild Rhodiola rosea in the Tian Shan Mountains

ARRGO celebrates those who are working hard right now to bring in the wild Rhodiola rosea harvest in an ethical and sustainable manner.  In the province of Xinjiang in northwest China, the wild Rhodiola is dug in June and July.  More than 95% of the world’s supply of Rhodiola rosea comes from the wild.  ARRGO is hoping to make a difference and to make the supply of Rhodiola rosea sustainable through cultivation.  Rhodiola rosea has benefitted so many and we want to ensure the supply for generations to come.  But just as important is the wild supply.  What have we yet to discover about this diverse species?  And what will we lose if the wild species is lost?

Here is an article recently revised and published by the American Botanical Council’s Sustainable Herbs Program about the wild harvest of Rhodiola rosea in China.  In China, the wild harvest takes place in the Xinjian Uighur Autonomous Region, which lies in the northwest of the country where Rhodiola rosea grows on the steep slopes of the Tian Shan mountain chain.  Wild Rhodiola rosea is also collected in parts of Mongolia and Russia.

Next week, June 21-25, 2021 is FairWild Week.   This series of webinars is sponsored by the FairWild Foundation.  It is a great way to learn more about the state of wildharvesting and how it affects everyone.

Regarding wildharvesting, the FairWild Foundation says this:

One key issue is that, as consumers, we often have absolutely no idea we’re consuming wild plants. And if we do, many companies, whether purposefully or not, make it very difficult to find out where these ingredients came from and whether they were collected sustainably and ethically.

Based on IUCN Red List criteria, one in 10 of the 19% of plant species used for medicinal and aromatic properties that have been assessed are threatened with extinction in the wild. Unsustainable use and overexploitation are key threats to the world’s wild plants, and figures show that global trade in wild plant ingredients is increasing with the value of trade tripling in recent years.

It’s not only consumers who rely on wild plant ingredients however; millions of people the world over depend on them for their primary source of income. In Europe, 26% of households collect non-wood forest products (NWFPs), with global production of NWFPs valued at USD88billion per year.

ARRGO sincerely appreciates our customers and our growers that have made the choice and support cultivation of Rhodiola rosea.  We applaud all efforts to keep the wild sources of Rhodiola in tact.  Let’s work together to allow this amazing and invaluable medicinal herb to continue to benefit many in the years to come.

Organic cultivated Rhodiola rosea
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In Full Bloom

In Full Bloom

Late May and the adult plants in the nursery are loaded with yellow flowers.  The seedlings are all moved out to the field, but these plants remain in the nursery to make next year’s seed.   The sounds and sights of buzzing insects are evidence of a good seed harvest in the making.

Rhodiola rosea plants are dioecious, either male or female.  As the flowers appear, the differences in plant gender are noticeable.  Just my observation, but the males are bright yellow before the females show their color display.  At this time of year and in the pictures the male plants have the most color. 

Close up photos show the differences in flower structure.  The males have a star shaped burst of stamens and are in their fully glory.  The females have swollen pods and are just starting to open.  The female flowers are smaller, and tighter and the pod or ovary at the flower base is prominent.

The male plants in the picture are shorter and smaller, but that is not always the case.  Published literature suggests that the male plants can be larger and may have slightly increased levels of beneficial compounds.  I think I will look for new breeder males for next year’s crop of seeds!

Rhodiola rosea requires insects for pollination.  The bees are always around, and so are smaller flying insects.  They hop around quickly and were camera shy today. There are many other flowers blooming, such as cherry, apple and dandelions, and the native plant called Buffalo bean.  It’s good that some insects prefer some adaptogenic pollen and nectar during this time of plenty.

The male flowers will fade as their work will soon be done.  The female flower heads will develop over the next two months and seed harvest occurs in early August after the stems have turned brown.

May is almost wrapped up, and the next two months are all about weeding.  Yay!!! (not!!!!)

Male Rhodiola rosea Flowers
Female Rhodiola rosea Flowers
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Roles in Sustainability

Rhodiola rosea blooming - May

Sustainability is key to success for our customers, for our growers and for the world’s supply of Rhodiola rosea.  Every part of the equation must have success – a win-win for all players.  How do we get there?  Let’s look at each key player and their role in the steps to sustainability.

  1. The end-use customer. When the customer is standing in front of the rows of options at their local health food store, are they willing to support sustainability?  As a consumer, here’s a good way to think about it – can we spend the same amount of money and get a bit less product, but one that is sustainable?  When we do that, we as customers are ensuring a quality supply for generations to come. 
  2. The manufacturer of finished products. ARRGO supplies our Canadian-grown raw material to manufacturers around the world who are concerned about their supply of Rhodiola rosea.  Cost is always a factor.  How can the manufacturer balance cost with the ideals they stand for? -quality, purity, fair trade, sustainability, equality, diversity and so much more.  It’s a tough boardroom and tough decisions have to be made.
  3. The middleman. ARRGO stands in the middle to support the growers and the manufacturers.  ARRGO listens and responds with a commitment to provide the best quality Rhodiola rosea to the manufacturer in terms of purity and highest standards.  ARRGO is also fully committed to the growers by ensuring a fair price and by supporting the farmers in their efforts to grow Rhodiola sustainably.
  4. The grower. The farmer knows their costs to produce.  ARRGO helps to find ways to make their work more efficient.  It’s the grower’s decision in the end and the supply chain ‘buck’ stops here.  Without the grower there is no supply chain, at least for cultivated Rhodiola.  Without the grower, then reliance for the global supply of Rhodiola rosea falls on Number 5.
  5. The supply of wild rhodiola rosea. How much Rhodiola rosea is left in the wild?  In the comprehensive study by Josef Brinckmann et al., it is calculated that in the Altai region of the Soviet Union 76% of the wild supply was removed between 1974 and 1986.  Brinckmann cites other examples of devastation, as well.  What are we losing in diversity and benefits to humans and animals?  How can this wild resource be preserved and still provide its amazing benefits for the rest of forever?  Is there a way to make this a sustainable option?

For cultivated Rhodiola rosea, the crop requires at least 5 years in appropriate climate and soil to grow and mature.  In the wild, Rhodiola rosea on average is 20-30 years old when dug.  All harvest practices are destructive, and regenerative efforts are necessary. 

What’s the final solution to sustainability for Rhodiola rosea?  Change is inevitable, but this is where we are now.

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Planting Rhodiola – how is it done?

How do you . . .

Plant Rhodiola rosea? 

The seedlings are ready.  They’ve grown in their cells for a year or more.  Their roots are well established, crowns are developing, and they are filling up all the room they have in the nursery.

Is it time to plant them out into the field?  While the seedlings grow, the farmer must prepare the land to receive the seedlings.  In Alberta (Canada), the weed pressure is high to extreme, and Rhodiola rosea will not compete well with weeds.  Yield loss due to weeds can be as high as 95%.  That means lots of tilling and/or herbicides.  The crop bed must be weed-free to give the Rhodiola seedlings a head start.

Now are we ready to plant?  Maybe.  Check the weather.  Is there a rain in the forecast?  Yes!  Let’s go!

Time to lay the plastic and make raised beds.  Then pop the seedlings out of their trays in the nursery and hook up the transplanter.  Now fill up the water tanks and start planting.  The transplanter pokes a hole in the plastic and fills the hole with water.  Stop and go as all holes receive a healthy plant.  The end result – rows of Rhodiola and many promises to keep the field well tended and the weeds at bay. 

There are many ways to plant from highly specialized GPS-driven automatic planters to shovels and forks.  Either time and lots of money, or vice versa.  Each farmers’ story is different and each farmer makes many decisions for his Rhodiola.  And that’s just the start.  Next step – weed and weed some more – for five years.

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What do you do with all the dirt?

ARRGO is celebrating the close of another successful harvest and processing season for our Rhodiola rosea.  Now it’s time to clean up and get ready for the next season.

When the freshly dug Rhodiola is delivered to the ARRGO Processing Facility, some of the ‘field’ comes with it.  The dirt, weeds and rocks still cling to neighboring roots.  The crew at the Processing Facility are the experts at separating the good root from all the clingers that wrap around and sometimes pierce through the thick fleshy Rhodiola.

At the end of each day, the crew has a bin full of dirt and bits of rhodiola and weeds that must be disposed of.  It used to be that the dirt and weeds were hauled off to the nearest facility that handles toxic waste.  Yes, that’s right – agricultural soil is considered toxic waste.  But now there’s a much better solution.

ARRGO is fortunate to own the land adjacent to our Processing Facility.  Now all the bins of dirt are spread out on the land.  The dirt is tilled and worked in, and the weeds are killed after a few times of being turned under.

Last year ARRGO grew a test plot of Rhodiola rosea on top of the dirt.  We plan to do that again this year, too.  After that our plan is to turn the area into a Community Garden for the town.  Expensive problem solved and many people will benefit!

Bins of dirt stacked at the ARRGO facility will soon be added to the ARRGO test plot
From agricultural waste to community garden