There are wild ingredients found in your home that are now under threat. Brazil nuts, argan oil, and shea butter are now classified among a dozen wild, threatened and at risk plants known as flagship species that need protecting. A new report published by the UN called Wild Check: Assessing risks and opportunities of trade in wild plant ingredients, sheds light on twelve flagship species – the so-called “wild dozen” – that are hidden in our everyday products.

Developed in collaboration with TRAFFIC, a non-governmental organisation working globally on trade in wild animals and plants, and the International Union for Conservation of Nature, the report aims to raise awareness about the sustainable use of wild-harvested plants. It can help consumers choose fair trade labels or opt out using these products altogether.

There is a  surge in global demand for wild plant ingredients (an increase of more than 75 percent in value over the past two decades).

Thousands of species are at risk primarily due to habitat loss, as well as other factors such as climate change and over-exploitation. Of the 21 percent of medicinal and aromatic plant species whose vulnerability status has been assessed, nine percent are considered threatened with extinction. About 1 billion of the world’s most vulnerable people are thought to depend on them for their livelihoods.

“The sustainable use of wild plants has critical implications for food security and for millions of livelihoods around the world. It is time that wild plants are given serious consideration in our efforts to protect and restore habitats, promote sustainable agrifood systems and build inclusive, resilient and sustainable economies, particularly as countries work on the post-COVID recovery,” said Sven Walter, who heads FAO’s Forest Products and Statistics team. 

Supply and demand

Plants make up around 80 percent of all biomass on Earth and play a fundamental role in supporting humans and other animals by providing food, medicine, oxygen and shelter. In some parts of the world, wild plants are collected by some of the most vulnerable people, often using traditional methods that date back generations.

Meanwhile, demand for wild plant ingredients keeps growing, especially in wealthier countries. Consumers in the United States alone spent an estimated 11.3 billion dollars on herbal dietary supplements in 2020, while preliminary evidence suggests the COVID-19 pandemic has renewed interest in the use of wild species as ingredients in traditional and modern medicine.

Overall, it is estimated that up to 5.8 billion people may be using wild or semi-wild plants globally, according to a study by Rhodes University in South Africa.

Despite their ubiquity, importance, and the threats they face, wild plant ingredients are often obscured from consumers and escape companies’ due diligence due to a lack of awareness and traceability.

The report aims to address these challenges by providing detailed information on a selection of ‘flagship’ wild plant ingredients, dubbed the “Wild Dozen.”

What are the wild dozen?

The 12 wild plants singled out in the report are:

Frankincense: Found in north-eastern parts of Africa, as well as in Oman, Somalia and Yemen, its resin is used for incense, aromatherapy, cosmetics, perfumes and traditional medicines. Conservation status: near threatened

Pygeum: Also listed in ingredients for medicines and herbal products as Prunus, African cherry, red stinkwood or African almond, this tree grows in forests across tropical Africa. Conservation status: vulnerable

Shea: Grows across Africa, from Senegal to Uganda. Used widely in the food industry as a cocoa butter equivalent, it is also popular in cosmetics. Locally, it is used as a healthy cooking oil. Conservation status: vulnerable

Jatamansi: A perennial, aromatic plant that grows in the Himalayas, its roots are harvested for their medicinal properties. Conservation status: critically endangered

Gum arabic: This species grows in Africa and is primarily used in the food and pharmaceutical industries as an additive, emulsifier or stabilizer. Conservation status: not assessed

Goldenseal: Also known as hydraste du Canada or ground raspberry, this species is native to eastern North America and is primarily used for medicinal products. Conservation status: vulnerable

Candelilla: Found in Mexico and confining parts of the United States, candelilla wax was a common ingredient in chewing gum. It is used as a food additive (E902) and in cosmetics and pharmaceuticals, as well as industrial waxes and polishes. Conservation status: not assessed

Argan: Also known as Moroccan oil, and rumored to be processed inside a goat’s butt, argan oil‘s anti-ageing properties make it a popular choice among European and North American consumers of cosmetics and hair products, while its oil is also used to treat a number of ailments, from acne to arthritis. It grows in Algeria, Mauritania, Morocco and the Western Sahara territory. Conservation status: vulnerable

Baobab: The A. digitata variety of this species is native to mainland Africa and famously eaten by our ancestors. Baobab powder is used as a food and beverage ingredient, while its seed oil is used as a cosmetic ingredient. Conservation status: not assessed

Brazil nut: Harvested entirely from the wild, the tree is primarily exploited for its nutritious, edible nuts packed with nutrients and antioxidants such as magnesium, zinc, protein and selenium. Its harvesting has contributed to preserving millions of hectares of Amazonian forests, which is why it is often called the cornerstone of Amazon Forest conservation. Conservation status: vulnerable

Liquorice: This perennial herb is native to Eurasia, northern Africa and western Asia, and is primarily used for medicinal purposes, as a sweetener and in the tobacco industry. Conservation status: least concern

Juniper: Juniperus communis is a species of the temperate and subarctic northern hemisphere. Its berries are a key ingredient in gin manufacturing. They are also used as a food flavouring, an essential oil, an ingredient in cosmetics, and have a long history of use in traditional medicines and for religious purposes. Conservation status: least concern

The post The wild dozen and why you should care about these plants appeared first on Green Prophet.

The argan tree is a Berber identity icon, and production of its oil is traditionally a woman’s job.  But as with many folkways, interest in argan began to dwindle. It’s a finicky process with low yield. Unless marketed wisely, it’s hardly worth the effort to produce.

The Slow Food Foundation of Biodiversity, funded by Italy’s Piemonte Regional Authority, established argan oil workshops in Morocco, reviving the ancient skill and giving village women an opportunity to earn money.  Read how argan oil is  empowering Moroccan village women.

Argan oil is now considered a culinary and cosmetic treasure in upscale homes world-wide. Consequently, preserving the native argan forests has become an important economic issue in Morocco – just in time to prevent erosion of their environment. Recent successful efforts to cultivate the argan tree in Israel also improve the species’ chances for survival.

Hopefully this cookbook, written in charmingly accented English and lavishly illustrated with beautiful watercolors, will inspire you to do some exotic argan oil cooking.

Historical notes and traditional stories polish the recipes, which cover sauces, salads, couscous, soups, tajines and desserts. Scattered throughout the text are little gems like advice on how to tell if saffron is good quality; how to cook with a tajine pot; what oudi butter is (a type of ghee, or smen).

You can download the PDF for The Gold of Arganeraie by clicking on this link. <—update 2021, and the link no longer works. And to give you a taste, here’s a simple dessert.

It would make a good finger-food for a party too.

Dates Filled With Cheese and Walnuts

Adapted from The Gold of Arganeraie

For 15 dates

15 stoned dates

30 grams walnuts, finely chopped

100 grams ricotta cheese

80 grams Roquefort cheese

1 teaspoon argan oil

salt

Preparation time: 1⁄2 hour

Mix the ricotta with the Roquefort and argan oil using a whisk. Salt to taste.

Add half the chopped walnuts and put in a pastry bag.

Fill the stoned dates with the cheese mixture and finally decorate with the remaining walnuts.

Some surprising Moroccan recipes:

• Recipes: Got Argan Oil?
• Moroccan Love Potion Spiced with Pot

Images from The Gold of Arganeraie.

The post Download Moroccan Recipes Based on Argan Oil appeared first on Green Prophet.

Rumored to be full of fatty acids, antioxidants and vitamin E, argan oil cosmetics produced in the Maghreb are now available throughout the world, and that is a good thing for the women who make them.

Empowering women

There are now 137 cooperatives in Morocco that employ mostly women to produce argan oil, according to The Daily Star.

The argan tree is able to thrive in the desert environment of Morocco thanks to its deep root system that protects it against soil erosion and desertification. Even so, the once ubiquitous tree is now considered endangered and is protected under UNESCO.

In the past, Berber women collected undigested argan nuts from the waste of goats that used to climb into the trees and eat them. These were ground and pressed to make the precious oil. Modern technology bypasses the goats, and argan oil is made from nuts that are taken directly from the trees.

Hundreds of women who were previously unable to feed or clothe their children properly have benefitted from the oil’s surging popularity.

The Ajddigue cooperative alone employs 60 women, who collectively produce 1,000 liters of argan oil a month, though smaller businesses don’t fare as well, especially since the fiscal crisis in Europe has slashed frivolous spending.

Prices for argan oil have dropped by half, according to the Daily Star, to roughly $68 per liter.

Employees at the cooperative are concerned about the slump, but they expect a revival in time. In the meantime, the quality of life for the women living in the stretch of land between Essaouri and Agadir, on the country’s west coast, has improved dramatically.

“Before, they worked at home roasting and crushing the nuts and giving the oil to their husbands to sell. Now, by working together, they are able to earn money for themselves, to support their children and their families,” one assistant worker, Karima, told the paper.

Argan trees in Israel

While indigenous to North Africa, the argan tree grows elsewhere as well – most notably in Israel, where there are approximately 20,000 trees, according to experts. This is healthy for a species that is at risk of overexploitation and changing climes.

“Yields in Israel amount to an average of 60-80 kilos annually, compared to the 8-10 kilos from wild Moroccan trees,” Prof. Elained Solowey from the Arava Institute told Green Prophet.

While this is not expected to slash high prices and argan oil in Israel can’t compete with Morocco’s exotic reputation, Prof. Solowey hopes that within the next five years the country will be able to produce a high quality product that will diversify the industry.

In the meantime, European and American women are buying what they can, when they can.

“One woman from America came into my store and told me that she suffers from terrible skin problems,” the owner of Bubbles in Ghent, Belgium, told Green Prophet recently. “So I recommended that she try my argan oil cream, and she has had no problems at all. Now we ship to America.”

The post Morocco’s Berber Women Empowered by Rare “Miracle Oil” appeared first on Green Prophet.