AHPA ERB Foundation supports myrrh supply chain assessment project

• By: AHPA
• On: 12/16/2024 20:14:16
• In: AHPA-ERB Foundation

December 16, 2024

The American Herbal Products Association Foundation for Education and Research on Botanicals (AHPA ERB Foundation) is pleased to announce funding support for Myrrh (Commiphora myrrha): Supply Chain Assessment, Harvesting Practices, Landscape Management, and Chemical Analysis, a deep dive into the status of myrrh harvest and trade. The project is led by Dr. Anjanette DeCarlo and seeks to increase transparency and gain deeper insight into the supply chain and sustainability factors of myrrh resin, a valuable botanical widely used in herbal products, perfumery, and traditional medicine.

“The AHPA ERB Foundation Proposal Review Committee believes that Dr. DeCarlo's proposed research provides an opportunity for increasing the supply chain visibility of a commercially important botanical. They enthusiastically recommended the project for funding and the ERB Foundation Board approved support for the three-year project at its September 12, 2024 meeting,” said Holly Chittum, AHPA Project Scientist and staff liaison for the committee.

Despite its significant market demand, the impacts and environmental context of the commercial myrrh trade remains poorly understood. Threats such as over-tapping and grazing pressure have been well-documented in the closely related Boswellia trees also growing in the main myrrh production regions of Ethiopia, Somalia, and Kenya, but the status of myrrh has so far been unexplored. This gap in knowledge makes it challenging for companies to meet sustainable sourcing standards and support ethical trade, which in turn impacts rural communities dependent on myrrh production.

The project is slated to start in early 2025 and combines field surveys, chemical analysis, and socio-economic assessments to build a comprehensive understanding of the myrrh supply chain and the ecological status of its primary populations in Ethiopia. The research team will conduct interviews with harvesters and traders to map the supply chain from local communities to the export market, as well as quantitative population surveys to assess myrrh tree health, regeneration, and threats across harvested and non-harvested regions. The study will also analyze resin samples to identify potential chemical markers for geographic origin, possibly providing an innovative tool for verifying source authenticity and tracing the impact of different harvesting methods.
 
This work is crucial for the herbal products industry as it provides a pathway for companies to ethically source myrrh while safeguarding its long-term availability. The team will use the data generated in this project to generate a sustainable sourcing guide and educational materials for the industry, empowering companies to improve their supply chains, meet environmental and social standards, and support community welfare. This approach not only supports the ecological sustainability of myrrh populations but also helps foster fair trade practices that benefit local harvesters and strengthen the integrity of the herbal products market.
 
AHPA established the AHPA ERB Foundation as a 501(c)(3) foundation to promote education and research on medicinal, therapeutic, and health-promoting herbs. To learn more, visit the AHPA ERB Foundation online or join AHPA and the researchers behind projects currently supported by ERB Foundation funding at AHPA Talks: ERB Foundation, a free, virtual event on January 16, 2025 that is open to AHPA members, friends, and the public.