PGR News from the Pacific

Posted 1:21 PM by Luigi

Vanuatu sandalwood competes with Indian product

Source: Port Vila Presse – Vanuatu. 21 February 2006

Recent field surveys of natural stands of sandalwood in Vanuatu have uncovered a range of varieties that possess exceptional oil qualities.

The main survey was carried out in 2004 by local and Australian experts on six islands in Vanuatu – Malakula, Santo, Moso, Erromango, Tanna and Aniwa – in order to quantify morphological and genetic variation.

The survey was also intended to domesticate the good quality trees for expanding plantings to meet international standards for sandalwood oil.

This new development opens the way for local communities to make a greater contribution to the sandalwood industry through planting superior varieties.

The sandalwood oil industry also stands to benefit through future access to a consistent supply of quality oil which is required for developing premium branded products.

Individual sandalwood trees, known scientifically as Santalum austrocaledonicum, were assessed and wood core samples collected from nine populations on the six islands. A total of 28 percent of trees sampled in the two northen islands produced a natora oil meeting the international standard because they have as content more than 41 percent of a-santalol and more than 16 percent of b-santalol. The selected trees from the remaining southern populations had a mean of 31 percent of a- and b-santalol.

The survey now places Vanuatu in second position behind the indian sandalwood, Santalum albam in the world market.

The Santalum austrocaledonicum is mainly found in Vanuatu and Mare island in New Caledonia compared to Sandalum yasi in Fiji and Tonga with poor quality oil.

Last week, there was a wokshop organized by the department of forestry and James Cook University (Cairns, Australia) in Port Vila, to educate and encourage farmers to produce the high quality sandalwood oil.

For full story, please see: www.news.vu/en/business/Forestry/060221-Vanuatu-Sandalwood-competes-with-Indian-product.shtml



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DIVA-GIS	Sunday, March 05, 2006 Posted 1:21 PM by Luigi Vanuatu sandalwood competes with Indian product Source: Port Vila Presse – Vanuatu. 21 February 2006 Recent field surveys of natural stands of sandalwood in Vanuatu have uncovered a range of varieties that possess exceptional oil qualities. The main survey was carried out in 2004 by local and Australian experts on six islands in Vanuatu – Malakula, Santo, Moso, Erromango, Tanna and Aniwa – in order to quantify morphological and genetic variation. The survey was also intended to domesticate the good quality trees for expanding plantings to meet international standards for sandalwood oil. This new development opens the way for local communities to make a greater contribution to the sandalwood industry through planting superior varieties. The sandalwood oil industry also stands to benefit through future access to a consistent supply of quality oil which is required for developing premium branded products. Individual sandalwood trees, known scientifically as Santalum austrocaledonicum, were assessed and wood core samples collected from nine populations on the six islands. A total of 28 percent of trees sampled in the two northen islands produced a natora oil meeting the international standard because they have as content more than 41 percent of a-santalol and more than 16 percent of b-santalol. The selected trees from the remaining southern populations had a mean of 31 percent of a- and b-santalol. The survey now places Vanuatu in second position behind the indian sandalwood, Santalum albam in the world market. The Santalum austrocaledonicum is mainly found in Vanuatu and Mare island in New Caledonia compared to Sandalum yasi in Fiji and Tonga with poor quality oil. Last week, there was a wokshop organized by the department of forestry and James Cook University (Cairns, Australia) in Port Vila, to educate and encourage farmers to produce the high quality sandalwood oil. For full story, please see: www.news.vu/en/business/Forestry/060221-Vanuatu-Sandalwood-competes-with-Indian-product.shtml * Comments: Post a Comment	Archive October 2002 November 2002 December 2002 January 2003 February 2003 March 2003 April 2003 May 2003 June 2003 July 2003 August 2003 September 2003 October 2003 November 2003 December 2003 January 2004 February 2004 March 2004 April 2004 May 2004 June 2004 July 2004 August 2004 September 2004 October 2004 November 2004 December 2004 January 2005 February 2005 March 2005 April 2005 May 2005 June 2005 July 2005 August 2005 September 2005 October 2005 November 2005 December 2005 January 2006 February 2006 March 2006 April 2006 May 2006 June 2006 July 2006 August 2006 September 2006 October 2006 November 2006 December 2006 January 2007 February 2007 March 2007 April 2007 May 2007 June 2007 July 2007 August 2007 September 2007 October 2007 November 2007 December 2007 January 2008 February 2008 March 2008 April 2008 May 2008 June 2008 July 2008 August 2008 September 2008 October 2008 November 2008 December 2008 January 2009 February 2009 March 2009 April 2009 May 2009 June 2009 July 2009 August 2009 September 2009 October 2009 November 2009 January 2010 RSS Feed Alternative feed Contact Tevita Something new: Agrobiodiversity Weblog: For discussions of conservation and sustainable use of the genetic resources of crops, livestock and their wild relatives. 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