This project seeks to construct a pilot essential oil extraction plant to produce oregano oil and other essential oils from high phenolic plants. The project is premised upon a strong market driven approach where the VBG as a manufacture and processor of natural products for the veterinarian and pet car industries cannot procure a reliable and adequate source of imported essential oils for their product lines. The project will use specially selected oregano from Eastern Europe that minimally meets quality standards when grown in the U.S. under a variety of production trials to rapidly identify system(s) to obtain high volatile oil yields and high total phenol content. Parallel studies will evaluate the best time to harvest oregano for maximum carvacrol content, and also to compare a wide range of high phenolic plants, including as alternative sources of oil. All essential oils will be chemically characterized using GC and GC/MS analysis and quality assurance protocols will be established. All planned studies support and are complementary to the ongoing scientific, product development and marketing studies at VBG which evaluate the effectiveness of different oregano oil blends, new oils, and phenols on the efficacy of improving pet, animal and livestock health. ANTICIPATED RESULTS & POTENTIAL COMMERCIAL APPLICATIONS OF RESEARCH By developing a source of domestically produced essential oils, new crops can be commercially introduced into the region with minimum risk, and new value-added plant products can be extracted at the processing plant. To transfer the production and processing information to local and regional grower associations and other farmer associations, two field days and training programs will be held. This grant will therefore provide the foundation for the establishment of a new and larger essential oil industry focused on oregano oil.
