Technology · Agri-food systems / Agri-inputs & biocontrol

Ecological cultivation of medicinal herbs (TCM ecological agriculture)

Applying ecological principles to grow medicinal herbs for quality and safety — demonstrated across more than 20 provinces and cities and awarded a national science and technology progress prize in 2023, under the herb GAP rules issued jointly by four national bodies.

Maturity 7/9 Risk: medium CEA & horticulture Pharma & biologics CN verified 2026-10-16 · 3 Sources

1 · What it gives

TCM ecological agriculture applies ecological principles and economic laws to ensure the quality and safety of medicinal herbs and to balance social, economic and ecological benefits. The project follows an innovation chain from basic research through applied technology, model building and fixing of core techniques to an extension-service system. It has been demonstrated in more than 20 provinces and cities, including Hebei, Anhui, Guizhou, Yunnan, Shandong, Hubei, Henan and Fujian, and won a National Science and Technology Progress award in 2023.

2 · What it replaces 6

D2	Dengue, Zika and chikungunya prevention with Wolbachia-infected Aedes aegypti (population replacement) and incompatible insect technique — instead of repeated insecticide fogging Replaces: Pyrethroid and organophosphate space spraying (fogging) and indoor residual spraying against Aedes in cities; temephos in household water	RELEASE
D2	Grafting onto resistant rootstocks, biological/anaerobic soil disinfestation and biofumigation, and soilless (substrate and hydroponic) culture instead of methyl bromide and chemical soil fumigants Replaces: Methyl bromide (phased out under the Montreal Protocol, remaining critical/quarantine uses); chemical fumigants used in its place — metam …	SERV
D1	Bio-based and soil-biodegradable plastics instead of fossil commodity plastics (PET, LDPE, PS) and their microplastics Replaces: Fossil polyethylene/polypropylene/PS/PET in flexible and rigid packaging; intentional microplastics (restricted in the EU since 2023); …	PACK
D1	Biochar made by clean pyrolysis of crop, forestry and processing residues — used as a soil amendment and sold as durable carbon removal — instead of open burning, dumping or landfilling of those residues Replaces: Open burning of straw, husks, shells and prunings; dumping and landfilling of processing residues; traditional earth-kiln charcoal making …	AGROCHEM
D2	Biodegradable, bio-based lubricants and hydraulic fluids (vegetable-oil and synthetic esters) — instead of mineral-oil lubricants in forestry, agriculture, marine, rail and water-adjacent machinery Replaces: Mineral-oil hydraulic fluids, chainsaw bar oils, gear and stern-tube oils, greases (and total-loss lubricants lost directly to the …	CHEM
D2	Cassava mealybug classical biological control with Anagyrus lopezi instead of insecticides Replaces: Insecticide spraying (rarely affordable for smallholders) and uncontrolled crop losses from the invasive cassava mealybug in Africa	CLASSIC

3 · How to implement 4 steps

1
Basic research
Start from basic research.
2
Applied innovation
Develop applied technology innovation.
3
Build the model
Build the cultivation model and fix the core techniques.
4
Extension service
Build the extension service system.

4 · Who delivers

Matched suppliers (matched automatically)

Spice Kingdom	Egypt	Producer	active
AgriFam PT	Indonesia	Producer	active
Brown Grow (Pvt) Ltd	Sri Lanka	Services / consulting	active
CoirPlus by Premier Coir Products	India	Producer	active
McJones Energy	Ghana	Services / consulting	active
Galuku Lanka exports pvt Ltd	Sri Lanka	Producer	active
Lyine Hydroponics	China	Services / consulting	active
Marisse Substraat	Sri Lanka	Producer	active
SUGA COCO	India	Producer	active
Jindalai Environmental 金达莱 (SSE 688057)	China	Research / RTO	active
Rongbient	Vietnam	Research / RTO	active
Abou Aly Nurseries	Egypt	Services / consulting	active

Leading companies and institutes (from the brief)

The project is led by the Institute of Chinese Materia Medica of the China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences with Tianjin University, China Resources Sanjiu Medical & Pharmaceutical and others. Growers and suppliers are matched by the portal under CEA & horticulture and Pharma.

5 · Rules & route to market

Route into Russia / EAEU: RELEASE · Rosselkhoznadzor / Rospotrebnadzor
no commercial route in force
Information, not legal advice — confirm the procedure for your product. (2026-10-06)

United States

The sources reviewed on 2026-10-16 identified no the US regulator or standard specific to this technology. Treat the route as case-by-case and ask for a check.

European Union

The sources reviewed on 2026-10-16 identified no the EU regulator or standard specific to this technology. Treat the route as case-by-case and ask for a check.

China

The NMPA, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, the National Forestry and Grassland Administration and the National Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine jointly issued the Good Agricultural Practice (GAP) for Chinese medicinal materials to regulate the whole production process.

6 · Money: tenders & grants

Grant	Agriculture and Food Research Initiative Competitive Grants Program Foundational and Applied Science Program National Institute of Food and Agriculture · United States	Dec 31, 2026 76 days
Grant	Boosting Innovative GEOINT - Science & Technology Broad Agency Announcement (BIG-ST BAA) National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency · United States	Dec 14, 2026 59 days
Grant	Deploying circular systemic solutions through living labs in cities and regions (Circular Cities and Regions … European Commission · EU	Apr 8, 2027 174 days
Grant	NSF Scholarships in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Program U.S. National Science Foundation · United States	Mar 2, 2027 137 days
Grant	Strengthening strategic advice and synergies between EU and national Research and Innovation agendas and … European Commission · EU	May 11, 2027 207 days

7 · Tech stack & innovations

The sources reviewed list no verified risks; check herb quality and residue limits for each export market and ask for a check.

Sources 3

Icmm.ac.cn — www.icmm.ac.cn 2026-10-16
Icmm.ac.cn — www.icmm.ac.cn 2026-10-16
English.nmpa.gov.cn — english.nmpa.gov.cn 2026-10-16