Nutifood and Nui Chua National Park signed a cooperation agreement

Nutifood and Nui Chua National Park has signed a cooperation agreement on researching, conserving and sustainably developing the medicinal and aromatic plant species.

The agreement kicks off the next large-scale project of the nutrition product producer on entering the herbal field, following its big investment deal in Ngoc Linh Quang Nam Ginseng - Pharmaceutical - Trading Joint Stock Company (Quasapharco).

“As soon as we entered the herbal field, we focused on forest conservation and development activities along with research, propagation and expansion of planting areas, because most of the rare and precious herbs of Vietnam such as ginseng Ngoc Linh or xao tam phan (Paramignya Trimera) all live in symbiosis with others in the forest,” said Tran Bao Minh, Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors of Nutifood Nutrition Food Joint Stock Company (Nutifood).

“Through this signing, Nutifood wishes to contribute to preserving Vietnam's ‘valuable assets’- the medicinal herbs - that are about to become extinct while multiplying rare herb species to serve human health,” he added.

Located in Ninh Hai District, Ninh Thuan Province, Nui Chua National Park has been recognized by UNESCO as a global biosphere reserve. Covering a total area of more than 106,000 hectares, this place converges all three spaces of forest, sea and semi-desert. Considered as the place with the severest weather in Vietnam with hot and sunny weather all year round, Nui Chua Biosphere Reserve forms an unique ecosystem, the only standard model of the typical and unique dry forest ecosystem of Vietnam and South-east Asia.

The national park is the "common home" of more than 1,511 species of plants, 54 of which are listed in the Vietnam Red Book and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List. It is also home to over 300 species of medicinal plants that are beneficial to human health. Due to its extreme harsh climate, the medicinal plants that grow there, such as xao tam phan, plantago or smilax, have high substance contents and thereby being capable of treating many human diseases.

“Nutifood is working with research institutes, universities, the management board of Nui Chua National Park and local authorities to have a suitable development plan for local precious medicinal herbs, aiming to increase their quantity and prevent them from becoming extinct in the wild," said Minh.

In addition to possessing a rich flora and fauna, Nui Chua is also the home for Raglai ethnic group, who live solely on exploiting forest resources. Therefore, this signing has great significance in supporting them to change their careers to growing and protecting medicinal and aromatic plants, thereby earning a stable income and raising the awareness of protecting nature.

Tran Van Tiep, Director of Nui Chua National Park, said: “This cooperation agreement will bring significant long-term benefits to the society in general and local people in particular. After changing careers, the locals will take over stable and meaningful jobs that will contribute to embellishing and protecting the forest and nature and thereby contributing to the communities.”

Tiep also hoped that the two sides would cooperate well to jointly develop forest resources, conserve and propagate medicinal and aromatic plants to bring great benefits and values to the whole community.

This cooperation marks another important step of Nutifood in investing in the field of herbal medicine, pursuing the goal of serving millions of consumers in both Vietnam and worldwide with nutritional quintessence.

Founded by prestigious doctors and nutritionists in 2000, Nutifood is known as a pioneer in researches to introduce nutrition products that meet the nutritional needs of the community. The combination of leading nutrition experts from the Swedish Nutifood Nutrition Research Institute, which is at the forefront of the world's latest technology and nutritional applications, and the Vietnam Nutifood Nutrition Research Institute that thoroughly understands the physical condition of Vietnamese people, is considered a strength of the company. Nutifood was awarded a certificate as “Việt Nam’s No 1 Baby Milk Brand” from the Việt Nam Dairy Association in 2020. The further studies of Nutifood on Vietnamese herbs and medicinal herbs, especially rare species, are expected to diversify their product lines to meet the consumers’ demand, from milk, nutritious food to nutritious drinks for daily use.