Fragrance producer Symrise has entered into a project with French research institute CRIEPPAM to ensure healthy supplies of white lavender.
Symrise said the programme aims to achieve Plants Sains accreditation and authentic certification within three years.
The Plants Sains certification program started in the 2000s on the recommendation from INRAE.
Major lavender producers have carried it in response to a strong decline of lavender and lavandin supply due to disease from bacterial infection.
The French company said the project will create a “sustainable supply chain with lowest plant disease risk, in accordance with EU legislation” and provide a “stable source of income for local farmers”.
“This will secure a more sustainable supply chain by providing partner farmers with healthy lavender plants and complete traceability,” it added.
The tie-up with CRIEPPAM will also give Symrise exclusive ownership of regenerated ‘Mount Angele’ white lavender plants.
Beatrice Favre-Bulle, senior vice-president of perfumery excellence at Symrise, said: “In late 2020, our partnering lavender farmers requested us to join the ‘Plants Sains’ system to fight against a chronic lavender disease.
“A bacterial infection causes it and leads to significant harvest losses affecting the farmers’ income. To secure the Symrise white lavender supply chain…we have initiated a bio-regeneration project (with CRIEPPAM) .”
The project involves using a novel in-vitro laboratory technique that produces 100% guaranteed bacteria-free seedlings.
The technique uses the maturation of stem cells called ‘Meristems’. They consist of very young, undifferentiated, and healthy cells present in the buds at the tips of stems and roots.
They can multiply and transform into bacteria-free structures, which will generate a healthy plant.
“This process proved surprisingly successful within less than a year,” said Bert Candaele, director of CRIEPPAM. “Our partner farmers are looking forward to plant these fresh seedlings.”
