Project Number: 1932-21410-001-01
Project Type: Specific Cooperative Agreement

Start Date: Jul 15, 2002
End Date: Jul 14, 2007

Objective:
The Appalachian Farming Systems Research Center will: (1) Identify herbal plants with medicinal value that can be grown in Appalachia. (2) Determine the biological properties and ecological niches in the field of candidate medicinal herbs. (3) Determine the seed physiology and germination properties of the candidate medicinal plants. (4) Develop propagation and cultivation methodologies for the candidate medicinal plants.

Approach:
Small farmers are the dominate agricultural producers in Appalachia. New high value medicinal crops that utilize the unique climatic and production attributes of the Appalachian region would benefit these small farmers. The Appalachian Farming Systems Research Center, in collaboration with Mountain State University, is to research, develop, and implement new and improved techniques for the cultivation and production of herbal crops as medicinal botanicals. Mountain State University will focus on extraction of the medicinals from the plants and marketing aspects.