SciTech www.src-jamaica.org
SRC Celebrates Its This is a special year for the Scientific Research Council (SRC) as it celebrates fifty glorious years of service to Jamaica, since its establishment on June 16, 1960.
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Scientific Research Council Quarterly Newsletter Volume: 1-10 Date: August 2010 Published by Marketech Ltd.
In this issue: Increasing Public Awareness Calendar of Events SRC Kick-starting Lemongrass Industry
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Let Us Help You With
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Ackee Spread
SRC’s accomplishments over the years have left its positive imprint on our nation. SRC’s work has impacted the environment through its involvement in wastewater treatment systems, renewable energy and disease-free plantlets; our food industry through the development of quality products that are healthy and safe for consumption and education by providing invaluable
Products developed by the SRC : Ackee & Salt-fish Spread and Lemongrass Water support to the area of science education, through summer programmes, career expos, science clubs and numerous quizzes and competitions. The SRC continues to excel in other areas as
SRC’s Andrew Woods explain the process of Tissue Culture technology to students at the Careers in Science Expo organized by the SRC’s Science and Technology Education Unit.
for the second time since 2008 it has received ISO certification. It is now ISO 9001:2008 certified. The SRC is HACCP certified and has a number of consultants who provide training in this area along with Good Manufacturing Practices. SRC has its own certification mark, was nominated by JEA for outstanding services in the Consultancy category for 2009 and was recently awarded the first accreditation certification for its Analytical Services Laboratory by JANAAC.
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SRC Kick-starting Lemongrass Industry
Give your products international Appeal Get the Scientific Research Council’s Certification Mark
The Mark of Quality
SciTech
Scientific Research Council
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Volume1-10
www.src-jamaica.org
Increasing public awareness In order to increase public awareness for its products and services, the Scientific Research Council has been conducting scheduled tours of its facility.
Quarterly newsletter
Calendar of Events
50th Anniversary Church Service, Hope United Church, June.
50th Anniversary luncheon, Terra Nova, June.
Science Summer Camp, The Council opened its Bluefieds Westmoreland, SRC’s process development officer, Mr. Sanjay Ross explains door to various schools July. food processing to students of the College of Hospitality and and organizations in Business Studies on tour at the SRC Pilot Plant.. SRC Movie Evening, order to satisfy their July. quest for knowledge of fu nct io ns. Pr imar y, the SRC internal preparatory, secondary, tertiary institutions and Public Forum community groups have Lemongrass, Hanover, been taking advantage September. of this. 50th Anniversary Retro Party, November. The SRC’s marketing Summer Internship at arm, Marketech Ltd. may SRC for students of Jose be contacted at (876) Marti Tech, July. 977-2192 in order to Presentations at schools schedule a tour. across the corporate area, July. Students of the Liguanea Preparatory School listens attentively to Tours are scheduled Summer attachment Ms. Jodi Spence of the SRC’s Tissue Culture Laboratory . based on request of programme for teachers, clients and can be July-August. general or specific to Caribbean Youth Science particular areas of the Forum, Trinidad, August SRC. National Young 23rd Annual Inventors Competition, Science & Technology November.
SRC invites you to its
Conference & Exposition
SSTS Oratorical Competition for Senior High School Students, November
Innovation in Science & Technology Awards, November.
November 9 9--11, 2010 At the Pegasus Hotel Theme: “Green Technology for Survival”
Manning’s High students tour and participate in a sensory evaluation at the SRC.
Scientific Research Council Quarterly newsletter
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SciTech www.src-jamaica.org
SRC Kick-starting Lemongrass Industry Sorrel, many years ago, was not viewed as a commercial commodity, but the Scientific Research Council’s activities in developing this industry have changed that. Now, Sorrel, in a variety of products, can be found both locally and internationally and the health benefit s are widely known. Today, the SRC hopes to do the same for Lemongrass as it did for the sorrel industry. Increasing demands for essent ial o ils have convinced the SRC that Jamaica is sitting on wealth. Our local plants are rich in medicinal properties, that remain by lar ge, an u nt app ed resource in our country. Since the majority of essential oils used in Jamaica are currently imported, the SRC is u s i n g t h is a s a n opportunity to generate business for Jamaica. As such, lemongrass which is known locally as Fever grass was singled out based on its medicinal value and global demand Cont’d on pg 4
SRC’s Executive Director, Dr. Audia Barnett (standing) speaks to clients about opportunities in the lemongrass industry at a‘Business to Business’ meeting. Inset: Lemongrass Ginger Body wash and Lotion developed by the SRC.
LET SRC Help YOU WITH:
New product development food & beverage
Personal care products
Meat processing and curing
Herbs & spices
Analytical tests– food & water
Selection & use of appropriate packaging
Nutritional labeling
Shelf life studies
Good Manufacturing Practices
our
HACCP– International Food Safety guide
products
Factory layout and equipment guide
Tissue Culture Technology– production of disease-free plantlets
Designing & implementing environmentally friendly wastewater treatment systems
Market research
Caribbean Energy Information/ renewable energy
Contact us at: P.O. Box 350, Kingston 6, Jamaica, W.I. Tel: (876) 927-1771-4 or 977-2192 Fax: 977-6000 marketech@src-jamaica.org Website: www.src-jamaica.org
Scientific Research Council Quarterly Newsletter Volume: 1-10 Date: August 2010 Lemongrass from pg 3
for the essential oil as a feasible product to penetrate the market.
Some of
S t u d ie s ha v e in d icat ed t hat le mo ng r ass is a wo rt hwh il e industry as there is a high demand worldwide for the essential oil. In Jamaica alone, 81 percent of spas interviewed utilize essential oil from L e mo n g r a s s . C u r r e n t l y, t h e lemongrass essential oil is being sold for US $9.50 per pound. There are many opportunities for business as it concerns the grass, as it is used in many value-added products and is widely used in beauty and aromatherapy products. Farming of the grass is also an opportunity that can see lucrative returns on a one acre farm with investment of $250,000. The lemongrass industry is at the introductory phase of its life cycle and offers attractive returns on investment. The SRC is encouraging investors to get involved at various stages of the value-chain (farming, oil ext ract io n and pro duct io n o f value-added products).
“Making Science and Technology Work for You”