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| Cultivating and caring for cajeput trees following FSC standards |
Vietnam’s first FSC-certified product
The Hue - Tien Phong cajeput oil is extracted from the cajeput tree leaves - a signature tree species of the Central Vietnam hills. Tien Phong Company has propagated, planted, and cared for these trees under the province-level science and technology project. The company produces cajeput essential oil by traditional steam distillation method to preserve the natural nutrients in the cajeput leaves. The product has earned FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) certification (FM/COC), ensuring its responsible sourcing and community-friendly production. This certification underscores environmental commitments while also reassuring consumers.
Mr. Ngo Thanh, Deputy Director of Tien Phong Company noted that from February 2022 to January 2024, the company was assigned by the provincial People’s Committee to lead a science and technology project, including building breeding processes, and technical processes for planting and caring for cajuput trees in vitro. This is one of many important procedures to meet the requirements for improving the quality of cajeput oil products. Thus, along with developing cajeput plantations and FSC-compliant production processes, the company launched the “Cajeput oil production chain – From tissue culture to FSC-certified products” project.
The Hue - Tien Phong cajeput oil project is a comprehensive production process for cajeput oil, encompassing tissue culture propagation, raw material cultivation, and product processing. This process has been effectively implemented for the first time at Tien Phong Company. The project goes beyond research outcomes, achieving widespread, large-scale, and highly effective practical application. Notably, it has successfully produced 100,000 cajeput seedlings in the nursery in vitro to establish a 10-hectare raw material plantation within the project framework. Additionally, over 200,000 tissue-cultured plants have been cultivated, supporting the development of a 20-hectare raw material zone for the company's essential oil production and processing. The Hue - Tien Phong cajeput oil is the first essential oil product in Vietnam to be certified as meeting FSC standards.
Developing affordable raw material resources
According to Mr. Ngo Thanh, FSC certification for cajeput oil, based on FSC-certified plantations, creates a sustainable link between forest management and non-timber forest products, not only on the managed lands of Tien Phong company but also of the province and the nation.
In addition to providing 100,000 high-quality cajeput saplings in vitro as per provincial orders to expand the medicinal cajeput plantations in the area, the project also enabled large-scale production of saplings to meet market demand both within and beyond the province while supporting the company’s development of a 20-hectare raw material plantation. This establishes a foundation for producing and supplying high-quality cajeput saplings at affordable prices to local residents and herbal medicine enterprises, contributing to the economic growth of the region.
According to Mr. Ngo Thanh, the production cost of cajeput saplings in vitro has also decreased from 2.580 VND to 1.560 VND per sapling. The application of tissue culture techniques rejuvenates the saplings, enhances productivity in the raw material plantation areas, and confirms that controlled tissue culture propagation can improve efficiency without compromising the quality of the essential oil.
The successful establishment of cajeput planting models in vitro is expected to boost the development of high-tech agricultural production in the region, facilitating the adoption of advanced techniques in cultivation and harvesting. This will improve productivity and quality, gradually creating distinctive medicinal products for the area, simultaneously, producing and distilling cajeput oil according to FSC standards, ensuring significant economic benefits.
Mr. Ngo Thanh further explained that cajeput oil meeting FSC standards is sold at over 2 million VND per liter, after deducting production costs about 1.5 million VND, including raw materials, labor, depreciation, and storage, the profit amounts to over 500,000 VND per liter. The average annual revenue per hectare is estimated at over 60 million VND. Notably, the cultivation areas fully utilize marginal lands, acidic soils, and underutilized spaces beneath infrastructure, which are unsuitable for other crops, to grow cajeput trees for oil production.
The technical processes for planting and caring for cajeput trees are being applied by Tien Phong Company to expand and develop the raw material areas. The end-to-end production of FSC-certified cajeput oil, from tissue culture propagation to plantation and supply chain management, has been successfully researched, applied, and implemented by the company. This model serves as a valuable reference for organizations, local authorities, and residents seeking efficient production solutions.
The Hue - Tien Phong cajeput oil has been certified by the Department of Health, standing out for its high cineol content - a natural compound known for its numerous health benefits. Cineol is effective in killing bacteria, reducing the risk of illness, and boosting immunity. This product recently won the First Prize at the XIV Provincial Technical Innovation Competition in 2024.