Efforts to develop a hoodia industry in Southern Africa gather steam

Botswana, Namibia and South Africa have less than a year to put the hoodia industry in order before other diet products take over the market. Hoodia gordonii, a succulent plant in southern Africa, which has appetite-suppressing properties, is already under pressure from other slimming products on the market.

Experts say the hoodia industry is under pressure to put its house in order to take advantage of the high prices being offered on the market now. Already lots of companies abroad are selling hoodia that is adulterated with spinach or wood shavings at rock bottom prices; for example, US$40/kg, when the genuine product is going for anything up to US$200/kg.

The biggest market for the product, which was originally used by the San and Nama peoples in Namibia, is the US, although the product may also penetrate the EU market once regulation issues get sorted out.

"There is lots of interest in the EU, but the product cannot be sold there. We need to cross the barriers to get into that market," said Rikus Muller, director of Grassroots, a South African natural products company, recently at a hoodia Information Day. To have hoodia legally listed in the EU will cost no less than 50 000 Euros. Muller said the three countries should ensure that they establish markets, whilst at the same time gearing up for production in order to have a long-term industry.

What the industry needs now is to give scientific backing in the form of clinical studies to prove that hoodia really suppresses one's appetite, because the history of the plant is not documented. "We have to look for proof that will make it easier for us when we say hoodia is safe to use," Muller said. While testing the product may take weeks, clinical trials may take up to eight months, after which the countries growing hoodia can have a base on which to grow the industry, added Muller.

South Africa expects to plant between six and ten million hoodia plants in 2007, while Namibia has three million plants under cultivation.

Recently, the Grassroots Group travelled to Los Angeles to talk to authorities in charge of regulating the herbal industry after concerns were raised in the market of finding real hoodia and also lack of proof that it has appetite-suppressing properties. The company, which supplies high-quality dried botanicals for human and animal medicines, is already blending hoodia in a fruit bar called Froodia, in Rooibos tea and in fruit juices.

Namibia has about 65 registered growers who form part of the Hoodia Growers Association of Namibia (HOGRAN). Hogran Chairperson, Dougal Bassingthwaighte, said this week that there are ready markets, which are unsecured at the moment because the industry cannot supply the product as yet.

The Ministry of Environment and Tourism has received three applications from companies to process Hoodia in Namibia. Chairperson of the Hoodia Working Group, Louisa Mupetami, said the companies would qualify depending on their experience.

New Era