Final Report Summary - EAN-SEABUCK (Establishment of European-Asian Network for the development of strategies to enhance the sustainable use of Sea Buckthorn)
Sea buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides) is native to Europe and Asia and has been known and used by humans for centuries. During the last decades, sea buckthorn has attracted special attention and became an important subject for domestication in many countries as it is one of the most interesting plants for human use. Sea buckthorn berries are amongst the most nutritious and vitamin rich fruits found in the flora. Several studies confirm numerous beneficial characteristics and more than 190 bio-active compounds in sea buckthorn. The 'Establishment of European-Asian network for the development of strategies to enhance the sustainable use of Sea buckthorn' (EAN-Seabuck) project aimed at the establishment of an integral cooperation network between Europe, China, Russia and the 'new independent states' (NIS) for a joint sustainable utilisation of sea buckthorn.
Specifically the EAN-Seabuck project aimed at the establishment of a European-Asian network for the trans-national technology and know-how transfer, exchange of best practice for joint sustainable utilisation of the Asian resources and development of the Russian / NIS market on sea buckthorn, Further objectives of EAN-Seabuck was:
- to improve and exchange mainly the knowledge between Europe and Asia in the field of sea buckthorn harvesting and processing in order to achieve a better product quality and safety which permits to reach international quality standards and thus make the obtained products available for the European market.
- to lead in long-term to the establishment of a sea buckthorn industry in the targeted INCO countries and thus employment alternatives for less developed and climatically disadvantaged remote rural areas against migration into cities.
- to increase the competitiveness of the European food industry by pre-empting the competition mainly from the Unites States in the use of bio-active compounds derived from sea buckthorn of Asian and Russian / NIS origin.
- to increase the use of bio-active compounds in the European diet a matter which is limited only due to the availability of sea buckthorn on the European market.
- to support vitamin supply and healthy nutrition of the relevant Asian and Russian / NIS population by increased valorisation of the endemic Sea Buckthorn fruit.
- to support anti-erosion measures by incentives to the care of the sea buckthorn plantations and to solidify the cooperation between European and Asian agriculture, food and rural development sectors.
During the first stage of the project the basis of the network was established. They guaranteed that the final achievements corresponded to the needs of the end-users and stabilised the bases to coordinate the technical development.
Simultaneously, first dissemination activities such as the launching of the project webpage and the design of the project flyer was carried out during the reporting period. The EAN-Seabuck project has been also presented in two international conferences specifically on sea buckthorn.
Specifically the EAN-Seabuck project aimed at the establishment of a European-Asian network for the trans-national technology and know-how transfer, exchange of best practice for joint sustainable utilisation of the Asian resources and development of the Russian / NIS market on sea buckthorn, Further objectives of EAN-Seabuck was:
- to improve and exchange mainly the knowledge between Europe and Asia in the field of sea buckthorn harvesting and processing in order to achieve a better product quality and safety which permits to reach international quality standards and thus make the obtained products available for the European market.
- to lead in long-term to the establishment of a sea buckthorn industry in the targeted INCO countries and thus employment alternatives for less developed and climatically disadvantaged remote rural areas against migration into cities.
- to increase the competitiveness of the European food industry by pre-empting the competition mainly from the Unites States in the use of bio-active compounds derived from sea buckthorn of Asian and Russian / NIS origin.
- to increase the use of bio-active compounds in the European diet a matter which is limited only due to the availability of sea buckthorn on the European market.
- to support vitamin supply and healthy nutrition of the relevant Asian and Russian / NIS population by increased valorisation of the endemic Sea Buckthorn fruit.
- to support anti-erosion measures by incentives to the care of the sea buckthorn plantations and to solidify the cooperation between European and Asian agriculture, food and rural development sectors.
During the first stage of the project the basis of the network was established. They guaranteed that the final achievements corresponded to the needs of the end-users and stabilised the bases to coordinate the technical development.
Simultaneously, first dissemination activities such as the launching of the project webpage and the design of the project flyer was carried out during the reporting period. The EAN-Seabuck project has been also presented in two international conferences specifically on sea buckthorn.
