Introduce essential oil products to customers

Affirming the value of Hue cajeput oil

In the hilly area of ​​Kim Long ward, dozens of hectares of young cajuput trees are rustling in the wind, signaling a bumper crop of essential oils. Few people know that behind those drops of fragrant essential oils is a whole journey full of passion and perseverance of the team of engineers and masters of Tien Phong Forestry One Member Co., Ltd.

“Hue cajuput has long been a familiar traditional medicinal product, associated with the livelihoods of thousands of households. However, the rapid and uncontrolled development in recent years has led to the appearance of many mixed and poor quality products on the market, reducing the reputation of Hue cajuput essential oil,” said Mr. Ngo Thanh, Deputy Director of Tien Phong Forestry One Member Co., Ltd. From that concern, the team of engineers embarked on an unprecedented journey of building a closed process chain, from tissue culture to cajuput essential oil products that meet international FSC standards.

From the sample treatment to sterilization, the research team has persistently tested many steps to perfect the process of propagating Melaleuca trees using tissue culture (in vitro). The team stimulated the formation of new shoots, then continued to promote root development. Thanks to the standardized process, in just over a year, the team created more than 111,000 Melaleuca tree seedlings in the laboratory. After that, the seedlings were taken to the nursery to be cared for and domesticated into healthy seedlings, before being planted in the wild.

In the cajuput plantation model in Kim Long ward, the survival rate of trees reached 97.7%, the average essential oil yield was more than 30 liters/ha/year. Analysis by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) showed that the essential oil met international standards for purity and active ingredient content. This is the first essential oil in Vietnam to achieve FSC certification (international certification for sustainable forest management), qualified for export to demanding international markets.

Not only does it enhance the Hue cajuput oil brand, the initiative also reduces the seed price from 2,580 VND to 1,560 VND/tree, helping farmers easily access quality seed sources. The process of using organic microbial fertilizers, reducing chemicals, contributes to environmental protection and biodiversity conservation.

From an agricultural product that is easily counterfeited, Hue cajuput oil has been gradually standardized, built a systematic brand and has the opportunity to expand its market share to the global market. This initiative won the first prize in the City's Technical Innovation Competition in 2024.

Nightmares

If the story of Tien Phong Forestry One Member Co., Ltd. has the appearance of an elaborate scientific and technical work, the journey of Bach Ma Herbals Production Trading Service Co., Ltd. evokes the image of a local start-up full of enthusiasm and market sensitivity.

“In the past, people in the Bach Ma buffer zone often cut down the tangerine tree for firewood and used the fruit as a spice. But few people know that the fruit contains up to 38-43% essential oil, the main ingredient of which is citral - a synthetic ingredient for vitamin A and many other valuable compounds,” said Ms. Le Thi Nhu Quynh, General Director of Bach Ma Herbals Production Trading Service Co., Ltd.

Since 2022, Bach Ma Herbals has started researching, extracting mulberry essential oil and developing the Olitsea brand. The company has built a 1.5-hectare raw material area in Loc An commune, applying modern steam distillation technology to optimize output and is planning to expand to 10 hectares, supporting seedlings and consuming products for people.

After only a short time, the company distilled 1,000 liters of finished essential oil, launched the Bach Ma mosquito repellent essential oil product line for babies, distributed to 720 stores in the "Con Cung" chain of stores nationwide, achieving initial revenue of about 1 billion VND.

Not stopping there, the company is currently preparing to launch Bach Ma meridian massage balm for pregnant and postpartum mothers, and is aiming to export to Japan.

“We dream of green hills of mulberry in Phu Loc, where people do not have to go into the forest to exploit, but grow medicinal plants to get rich right on their homeland,” said Ms. Quynh. The topic “Bach Ma mulberry essential oil” won second prize in the 2024 City Innovation Competition.

Two initiatives with two different approaches, but both demonstrate the spirit of daring to think, daring to do, daring to be a pioneer of enterprises. Both aim to increase the value of local products, build sustainable raw material areas, link economic development with environmental protection and create local jobs. At the end of August, these two initiatives represented Hue enterprises to participate in the "National Creative Labor" Festival, organized by the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor (VGCL).

Mr. Le Minh Nhan, Vice Chairman of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee, Chairman of the City Labor Federation, said that the initiatives of Tien Phong Forestry One Member Co., Ltd. and Bach Ma Herbals show that the movement "Good workers - Creative workers" is creating a clear effect in the business community.

According to Mr. Le Minh Nhan, in 2024, the whole city will have 2,964 initiatives, projects, and tasks recognized, bringing in tens of billions of VND in benefits. To spread these projects and initiatives, trade unions at all levels always focus on innovating implementation methods, enhancing the discovery, recognition, and support of groups and individuals with many initiatives and technical improvements.

Article and photos: HAI THUAN

Source: https://huengaynay.vn/kinh-te/nang-tam-thuong-hieu-doanh-nghiep-hue-158965.html