In this episode of the Supply Geek podcast, host Ben Thornton-Jones speaks with lemongrass experts Anand Iyer and Samr Calcutawala from Origin Oils to explore the fascinating world of lemongrass. They discuss its agricultural significance, diverse applications, and the economic benefits for farmers. The conversation delves into the distillation process, the challenges faced by farmers, and the innovative work being done by Origin Oils to support sustainable practices and traceability in the supply chain.

Takeaways

• Lemongrass is a perennial grass used widely in food and fragrance industries.
• It has strong antimicrobial properties, making it valuable in soaps and sanitizers.
• Lemongrass farming is particularly beneficial for smallholder farmers in water-scarce regions.
• The distillation process yields a small amount of oil from a large biomass of lemongrass.
• Farmers can store lemongrass oil for longer periods, allowing them to sell at better prices later.
• Adulteration of lemongrass oil with synthetic citral is a significant market challenge.
• Origin Oils aims to connect farmers directly with the international market, reducing middlemen.
• The company uses technology for traceability and to support farmers' income and practices.
• Lemongrass farming can provide better returns compared to traditional crops like rice and wheat.
• The demand for natural ingredients like lemongrass is on the rise, especially in nutraceuticals and pet care.

Chapters

• 00:00 Introduction to Supply Chains and Lemongrass
• 01:53 Meet the Lemongrass Experts
• 04:28 Understanding Lemongrass: Uses and Properties
• 12:28 The Farming of Lemongrass: Cultivation and Challenges
• 18:38 Profitability and Market Dynamics of Lemongrass
• 26:41 The Distillation Process and Supply Chain Overview
• 26:44 Understanding the Distillation Process
• 39:48 Challenges in Lemongrass Farming
• 43:45 Origin Oils: Bridging Farmers and Markets

Keywords

lemongrass, supply chain, essential oils, agriculture, sustainability, farmers, distillation, natural products, fragrance, economic impact

Links

https://origin-oils.co.uk/