Products
The raw materials for natural products supplied by PhytoTrade Africa members are all harvested from the wild by rural producers. Derived from a variety of different African ecosystems (ranging from the harsh Kalahari desert, through to savanna grasslands, miombo woodland and moist tropical forests), PhytoTrade members already market a wide range of products. These include confectionary, cosmetic oils, health care products, herbal teas, jams, nutritional supplements and medicinal products. Many of these have a long history of traditional use.
Priority Species
In order to focus our resources, we have chosen a limited number of species for product research, development and marketing.
- Baobab tree -- Adansonia digitata
- Devil's Claw -- Harpagophytum procumbens and H. zeyheri
- Kalahari melons -- Cucurbitaceae
- Mongongo tree --Schinziophyton rautanenii
- Mobola Plum -- Parinari curatellifolia
- Marula -- Sclerocarya birrea
- Sausage tree -- Kigelia africana
- Trichilia -- Trichilia emetica
- Ximenia -- Ximenia spp.
Developing further products
PhytoTrade has a "long list" of several hundred species that are produced in member countries, and is currently investigating commercial interest and markets, product availability, processing technologies and the potential impact of commercialisation.