Italian cultivation of Medicinal Plants on the up?

Cultivation of medicinal plants in Italy has risen to around 3,500 hectares in 2000 reported Dr Carlo Sessa, President of Assoerbe, the Italian Trade Association recently. About one third of this is organic particularly in Sicily which is now sizeable resources into developing organic agriculture.

After Calabria which is the dominant producer of bergamot and licorice , Umbria is the most important centre for medicinal and aromatic plant cultivation. Here melissa,chamomile, echinacea and St Johns Wort are grown. The Alpine region of Piedemont is the focal point of the Italian peppermint and melissa industry with companies like Aboca and Brisghello contracting growers throughout the region.

Italian chamomile production has been increasing substantially, particularly in Umbria, Abruzzo and Puglia. For further information see http://www.assoerbe.it.