Sustainability is a hot topic these years, and it means different things to different people. According to Wikipedia, sustainability is met when the dimensions of: 1) the environment, 2) society and consumer demands, and 3) the economy or economic feasibility are in balance. This definition works well to determine the sustainability of growing, processing and consuming Rhodiola rosea. Let’s examine sustainability in more detail.
Environment
Environment – this would be defined by the how and where Rhodiola rosea grows and can be grown. Rhodiola rosea grows in circum-polar areas of the Northern Hemisphere. It is slow growing and it possibly uses its growth rate to cope with the cold climate that it desires. In North America the plant grows in localized small discontinuous communities. This suggests that there are only certain areas and specific growing conditions in the circum-polar Northern Hemisphere that are preferential for native populations to exist. In Canada it is found along shorelines of the eastern provinces, such as Prince Edward Island and Nova Scotia and in specific coastal areas along the St. Lawrence River. It is also found north of the Arctic Circle where it is considered to be extremely slow-growing to the point of being uneconomic for cultivation.
In contrast, successful cultivation of Rhodiola rosea has been demonstrated in New Brunswick, as well as the Canadian prairie provinces of Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta. These are areas that do not contain wild colonies, and cultivation is achieved without artificial or imposed environmental alterations, such as greenhouses, high tunnel coverings or irrigation. Rhodiola rosea is still slow-growing under cultivation, and requires a minimum of 5 years as a field crop prior to harvest. This is in contrast to published ages of 15-30 years for wild-harvested R. rosea (Brinckmann, 2021).
In summary, environment is limited or restricted, especially for native populations of R. rosea, and cultivation has significantly extended and improved the perceived environmental limitations.
Society and Consumer Demands
Society and Consumer Demands – Rhodiola rosea has been a traditional remedy for stress, anxiety and altitude sickness in many northern cultures. In more recent times, demand in Europe has escalated, and most recently awareness is growing in North America of R. rosea’s many benefits for stress and improved cognitive function. There have been several studies linking consumer demand with diminishing wild populations, the most recent being the article published by Josef Brinckmann (2021). These documents indicate that consumer demands are outstripping the native populations of R. rosea, especially in Asia and Europe. Brinckmann’s article suggests that cultivation is the best option for offsetting the declines in wild colonies.
In summary, the benefits of R. rosea for humans are recognized as valuable, and consumer demand is projected to increase, especially among countries with aging populations. In addition, the awareness of R. rosea’s benefits in North America is minimal and may in coming years add to worldwide consumer demand. Cultivation may be the answer to bring society’s demands into the balance required for sustainability.
Economic Considerations
Economic – The costs involved in growing and processing vs. the price to the consumer. This is the tough part of the sustainability equation for all – growers, processors and consumers. Price is important, and as long as the price for wild-collected R. rosea is lower than what it costs to grow it, there will always be a reason to over-harvest native strains.
Fortunately, there are increasingly more companies who are willing to pay for the assurance of sustainability in their sourcing of plants and herbs. We applaud these companies and the work of the American Botanical Council’s Sustainable Herbs Program. Thank you for bringing awareness and understanding to sustainability for so many beneficial plants.
Our hope is that consumers will look for and demand sustainable choices. And with those choices comes assurance of quality, consistency and purity.
To the rhodiolagrowers.ca owner, Thanks for the detailed post!