The American Herbal Products Association (AHPA) Foundation for Education and Research on Botanicals (AHPA ERB Foundation) has committed to funding a five-year harvest impact study on goldenseal (Hydrastis canadensis) led by principal investigator Katie Commender, Agroforestry Program Director, Appalachian Sustainable Development.
Goldenseal is a long-lived deciduous forest perennial whose rhizomes are harvested for use as an ingredient in dietary supplements and other herbal products. The purpose of this project is to improve the understanding of harvest impacts on natural and forest-farmed populations of goldenseal and to develop recommendations for harvest methods, intensities, and cultivation that support the long-term viability of this species. A complimentary objective is to share knowledge of goldenseal with stakeholders, by providing timely and useful information about research findings on best practices and management. The research team will manage harvest studies to be replicated over multiple growing sites in southwest Ohio, southwest Virginia, eastern Kentucky and West Virginia, in natural forest and forest-farmed settings.
The AHPA ERB Foundation grant supports research on goldenseal populations, root production, and effects of varying rates of harvest on plant population health and recovery across multiple growing sites in order to inform sustainable harvest and management decisions for the herb.
Currently accepting matching funds for this project
The AHPA ERB Foundation encourages interested individuals and companies to help fund this study. To date, the Foundation gratefully acknowledges the following donors:
- Vitality Works Foundation (Mitch Coven, ERB Foundation Board, Treasurer)
- Herbalist & Alchemist (Beth Lambert, ERB Foundation Board, Chair)
- Herb Pharm (Marc Allen, AHPA Board of Trustees)
- Mueggenburg Farms (Nils Mueggenburg)
- Mountain Rose Herbs (Steven Yeager, ERB Foundation Board, Director)
- Ohio River Ginseng (Mitch McCullough)
- Duncan’s Botanical Products (Brent Duncan)
- Native Botanicals (Edward Fletcher, AHPA Board of Trustees)
- Aveda Corporation (Cindy Angerhofer, ERB Foundation Board, Director)
"The AHPA ERB Foundation is grateful for the generosity of these esteemed donors,” said ERB Foundation Board Chair Elizabeth Lambert. "Each donor is a longtime herbal industry expert and their generous donations will enhance the Foundation’s grant toward this important research project. We encourage others in the botanical industry to donate and will appreciate contributions of any amount."
How to donate
Anyone interested in making a donation should contact Jane Wilson, ERB Foundation Secretary, or, to donate directly, visit the AHPA ERB Foundation website and click on “Donate.”
About the Foundation
The American Herbal Products Association (AHPA) established the AHPA Foundation for Education and Research on Botanicals (AHPA ERB Foundation) as a 501(c)(3) foundation for the purpose of promoting education and research on medicinal, therapeutic, and health-promoting herbs.
About AHPA ERB Foundation Grants
The AHPA ERB Foundation supports a broad range of projects and efforts in the area of botanical research and education, on medicinal, therapeutic, and health-promoting herbs. Priority emphasis is on research on botanical supplies, applied technologies and methods of analysis, and information for stakeholders and consumers.
The AHPA ERB Foundation accepts grant proposals on an ongoing basis from eligible applicants in order to enhance and promote knowledge and understanding of herbs important to commerce in the U.S.