Design By Nature. Monavea Cross, Crettyard, Co Laois, Via Carlow, Ireland

Phone 056-4442526

Web: www.wildflowers.ie

Email: info@wildflowers.ie

To whom it concerns, (an open letter to all those concerned in Gov, NGO's and the public)

I am seeking your attention and support for a project involving the growing of botanical herbal and wildflower products in Ireland on a very large-scale which may create hundreds if not thousands of jobs..

I have enclosed my ideas, attached a two hundred word summary and the full document

My idea was selected as a runner-up in last years 'Your country Your call' competition hosted by Martin McAleese. As such there is now a small network of competitors who seek to further develop their set of ideas as runners-up.

In brief the project aims to encourage 5000 farm families to grow herbal crops for processing.

Ideally, I wish to launch the project nationally during summer 2012 when our trial crops will be in full production. Photographs of crops can be viewed online at https://picasaweb.google.com/SeedPic/Botanicals#

My idea is to hold an open day on our farm to show the feasibility of growing herbs, from that, I seek to start a network group to develop the ideas and action.

Yours sincerely,

Sandro Cafolla. Owner / manager.Design By Nature (Ire)

Brief: Two hundred word summary

Idea= ‘high value’ botanical crop raw materials grown and processed for food and pharma.

Requiring 5000 farms /(15,000 people) to diversify into botanical horticulture crops and processing .

Market = Global 105 billion, EU 12.5 billion

Growth rate = 3% to 12%, expansion is forecast

segments: food, flavourings, drugs, medicines, cosmetics, food supplements, reams, vitamins, tonics, teas, drinks, sprays, elixirs , extracts and more

Some of Europe’s largest herbal processors are present in Ireland. They import raw materials

Research is paving the way new generations of crops from plant species. Incl' lichens and mosses and fungi.

The document discusses

• Global concerns with harvesting wild plants

• Swat type analysis.

• Climate change and advantages

• Farm crops and sizes for existing crops and the impact of new crops

the idea = Invest in our distinct climate and soil based advantage, with high tech solutions

Specialise = Traceability and quality control

• start small and fast and grow rapidly using the all the existing centres of expertise.

• Convert existing machinery, farms and fixed assets easily

Establish small scale manufacturing of un-compounded chemicals and derivatives shared co-op grading and milling of botanicals
At present, Ireland produces few crops for processing into ‘Botanicals’

Ireland has an excellent climate for producing roots, leaves, petals, berries and certain seeds from native plants.

END of Summary

Link to next page : A totally new horticulture industry based on ‘high value’ botanical plant parts and chemical compounds grown and processed in Ireland for the medical, pharma, food and body-care sector.

Area under crops hectares