Cultivation

Medicinal and spice herbs count among the special cultivations, i.e. they need a particular high input of work and capital. Furthermore the farmer needs to know a lot about cultivation, harvest and after-harvest procedures (e.g. drying). In Germany, more than 100 species are cultivated in noteworthy extent. Important cultures are e.g. Camomile, Fennel, Peppermint and St. John's wort.

We have been purchasing an important part of our herbal drugs (dried plant and plant parts) from organic farming in Germany for many years. In future, we wish to ensure and extend our high ratio of organic herbs, which for the tea herbs is already more than 80%. Through our work in the field of cultivation and breeding, we are able to put at the farmers disposal appropriate seeds and seedlings (e. g. of the special Salus species) as well as the respective know-how, thus contributing to the provision of high quality raw materials.

Organic cultivation is important for Salus

The basic thought of organic agriculture means operating in harmony with nature. The farm is considered to be a "complete organism" with humans, animals, plants and the soil.

"An organism is an organized natural product in which every part is reciprocally end and means", Immanuel Kant

What organic farming can achieve:

• Protection of the natural resources soil, water and air through omission of chemical-synthetic pesticides and mineral fertilizers. Weed control is realised by means of mechanic and thermic procedures.
• Increase of biodiversity: on ecologically cultivated surfaces can be found 2 to 3 times more plant species than on conventionally cultivated surfaces. The diversity of insects and birds increases obviously.
• Protection of the (cultured) landscape: the varied crop rotation contributes to a diverse landscape. Hedges, hedgerows and humid biotopes are living spaces for beneficial insects.
• Healthy and high quality food: because of the slow, healthy growth in a living soil, an optimal quality of organic food is achieved.
• Exclusion of genetically modified food: the use of genetically modified seeds or auxiliary ingredients produced through genetic engineering, are forbidden for the processing of food in organic farming.
• Reduction of feeding stuff imports from developing countries: organic farming works with closed nutrient cycles. The animals are fed with feeding stuff the farm produces by itself.
• Support of adequate animal housing: organically working farms are obliged to house their animals in an adequate way (the possibility to run around outside, straw-bedded resting areas, natural light, good climate in the stable).
• Transparency in production: the European law for labelling and control of organically produced food shall protect the consumer against false labelling.
• Renunciation from industrial livestock farming: organic farmers are obliged to keep only a low number of animals per surface and thus impede an over-fertilization and deterioration of the groundwater or contamination of the air.
• Maintenance of working places in the farming sector: the organic farming sector has an up to 60% higher need of workers. The structures for processing and marketing are often regionally characterised.
• Organic farming is sustainable agriculture which maintains natural resources, preserves and has diverse positive effects on the environment.

Our Salus species

On the Salus testing fields cultivation starts, selection and breeding are realised. Cultivation is according to the EU-Eco-Regulation No. 834/2007.

Our aims for breeding can be classified into two groups:

Pharmaceutical aims: type and quantity of active principles or characteristic ingredients.
Cultivation aims: yield, habitat adaption, technical properties or tolerances against pathogens.
As breeding methods, mostly the positive and/or negative mass selection, set-up of inbreeding-lines and crossbreeds and backcross breeds are used. Great importance has the maintenance breeding and the propagation of seeds in order to stabilize the character and the properties of a breed.

Among the healing plants we use for our products, some are rare. Some species are even protected. So, in order to protect the wild habitats of the plants and at the same time assure a sustainable provision with raw materials, for many years we have been striving for the cultivation of wild plants. Arnica and Cowslip are two successful examples.

A cultivation start is more than just the planting of wild plants or seeds on the respective fields. It is a complicated process of adaption and selection of the plants the genetic potential of which allows optimal results at the respective location.