By Faiza Tehseen Islamabad, Feb. 07 (INP-WealthPK): Oleoresins – the highly concentrated aromatic essential oils and resins extracted from herbs and plants – are powerful flavouring agents and antioxidants used in food, pharma, personal care and nutraceutical markets. Cleaner than equivalent ground spices, they are considered more stable to keep colour and aroma at heat. They are extracted from capsicum, basil, celery seed, cardamom, clove bud, cinnamon bark, fir balsam, fenugreek, labdanum, ginger, jambu, mace nutmeg, marjoram, white pepper, black pepper, parsley, pimento, rosemary, sage, turmeric, savoury, thyme, vanilla and West Indian bay leaf. In 2020, the global oleoresins market was worth US$1.2 billion. By keeping 2020 as the base year, it is estimated that the global market of oleoresins will reach US$1.7 billion at a CAGR level of 6.3% by the year 2026. Oleoresins of chilli, pepper, ginger and turmeric are extracted at a large scale due to high market demand. Oleoresins keep high flavouring notes and are used 0.1-0.5% only in finished products. So, as a flavouring agent, they are too economical to use. Colour loss in paprika oleoresin is 1-2% per year, while in dried paprika, whole pod is 1-2% per month and in powdered form it is 2-4% per month. Most of the countries are earning handsome profits by trading oleoresins. The US contributes 37.4% share to the global oleoresins market. China and the US are projected to reach a market size of US$178.4 million and US$472.3 million respectively by the year 2026. Contrary to these countries, Pakistan imports essential oils or oleoresins despite the fact that it has vast treasure chests like Balochistan, Gilgit, Baltistan and Kashmir which abound in wonderful flora. In order to know about the current status and future of this industry in Pakistan, Wealth-PK talked to the Principal Scientific Officer at the Plant Introduction & Seed Health Lab of the National Agricultural Research Centre (NARC), Pakistan Dr. Riffat Tahira. Dr. Riffat has submitted a project entitled “Essential Oils for Aromatic and Medicinal Tenacities” to the agricultural linkage program (ALP) 9^th batch as the principal investigator (PI). She has also submitted a concept note entitled “Development of Nano-encapsulated essential oils for management of Mycotoxin producing fungi of Maize during storage” to the National Technology Innovative Fund (NTIF), Pakistan Science Foundation. Dr. Riffat is very enthusiastic about the research and commercial production of oleoresins. Talking to Wealth-PK, she said, “Oleoresins are high in demand in the international market. They are the products of essential oils and their production is a bit complex. Sometimes, aromatic plants carry little quantities of essential oils for extraction. Their highly volatile nature makes them unstable. That’s why they are attached to an inert substance called resin. Usually, oleoresins are prepared from spices. But it is important to know that resin could be of plant origin (of the same plant) or synthetic. There is a dire need to work in this sector to strengthen Pakistan’s economy. In Pakistan, areas of Balochistan, Gilgit, Baltistan and Kashmir are full of wonderful flora. They can be called the natural oleoresins treasure chests. Novel fragrances and flavours can be extracted from them." Dr. Riffat said flaws in the policy related to the research in commercial items must be fixed. "Currently, most of the base fragrances, essential oils or oleoresins are imported. It is too bad to import them when our own lands are full of a variety of spices, herbs and flowers. There is a need to explore and work seriously for commercial production”. Commercial production of oleoresins from fresh products is also one of the main points advised by AMD (U.S. Pakistan Partnership for Agricultural Market Development). According to AMD, Pakistan must focus on the extraction of chilli/paprika oleoresin because they are high in demand in the international market. Pakistan also needs to tackle the issue of aflatoxin in chillies which has badly damaged its export. Extraction of multiple oleoresins from herbs, spices, plants, and others will develop a sustainable industry in Pakistan with new work opportunities.