Consumer-driven Access to Natural Health Products Can Natural Health Products Therapeutic Coops working with small and medium size private nutraceutical/food product manufacturers promote Agriculture sustain-ability and Quality of Rural Life? I believe the answer can be Yes. If one utilizes diligence to increase the system extropy of the consumer to farmer value chain. (Definition:The extent of a system's intelligence, information, order, vitality, and capacity for improvement) Throughout this article, I will try to demonstrate how Extropian Agroforestry Ventures Inc. is creating a new model for "Healthful Businesses". This model tries to find solutions for long standing problems so is a work in progress. Comments which might make our model work better are highly encouraged...We do not think we have any monopoly on making good ideas practical and workable. Current Agricultural Trends: In Western Canada it has been accepted that large equipment utilizing technological innovations including Global Positioning Satellite equipment will optimize agricultural inputs. Physical and internet marketing of raw product is balanced by trading futures and options. Investment of off farm income is used to build a farm. Later, investment of agricultural profits into large non-agricultural businesses creates a retirement nest-egg. Control of a larger and larger land base part owned, part rented or leased is the trend for the next 20 or so years. If history and other sectors of agriculture are any indication of the future of Western Canadian Agriculture, individual owned and operated family farm businesses are going the way of the wood grain elevators and branch rail lines. There is currently some desire to move beyond this crude form of industrialization of agriculture to a kinder, gentler more consumer driven one. The task I feel at hand is to empower small and medium sized nutraceutical food/ingredient producers and processors not to go the way of the "Tyson Foods" Poultry factory Mega-farm model. The concept that improved quality of life for the customer should directly translate to improved economic and social benefits to the farmer/processor provider of services is best exemplified by the Organic farming community. These farms use knowledge as intensively as their factory farm neighbors use chemicals. There is a considerable lag in time between medical discovery of healthy food chemistry and when people can conveniently buy and consume these specially selected foods. For example, over the last 30 years I can cite 3 specific instances of drugs of which I have personal knowledge of , which have not been put to the uses that medical researchers originally found for them. In each of these cases company politics and profits as well as government regulations prevented access by the North American consumer to safe, cheap drugs. These drugs are Dimethyl-sulfoxide, Levamisole and Piracetam. The lesson to learn for those who desire freedom of access to Natural Health Products is that history must not be let to repeat itself. In Canada , the Natural Health Products (NHP) Directorate, beginning in 2004 will regulate 25- 30,000 food and supplement ingredients and products. Foods such as flax and hemp oil, high omega-3 eggs, ingredients such as stevia(a natural non-nutritive sweetener), soy germ isoflavones, as well as all current food supplements and some over the counter products will all be considered NHP's. If you have a poultry farm that grows, packages and sells omega 3 pork or eggs you will have no choice but to spend large sums of money to hire personnel, licence your farm production facilities, and do things like pave the lane up to your production site. The cost to bring a new item directly from the farm to the customer, even for test purposes will be completely out reach for small business people and farmers with less than 2 million dollars of assets and cash The pharmaceutical and applied Healthcare industry constantly creates new miracles. The spin- off of this is a massive amount of new basic medical knowledge. The rate of knowledge creation exceeds the rate of full application of this knowledge to deliver health products and services. The cost to acquire health benefits for the consumer is all too often too high to allow people the full benefits of all the disease treatments (Example- beta-interferon drugs for multiple sclerosis) Health service providers (USA) and Medicare (Canada) ration healthcare utilizing a science which analyzes the cost of treatment in comparison with the likelihood that life will be extended. This mathematical analysis is called pharmaco-economics. Simply put it determines if it is cheaper to prevent disease (set aside degenerative conditions until the very end of life) or wait until disease symptoms appear and attempt to treat an already damaged body. In the USA "Medical Foods" have been proposed by lawmakers to be eligible for health insurance coverage. The USA market currently severely restricts hemp products because they lack formal GRAS status and also make DEA drug law enforcement (marijuana) more difficult . Buffaloberry can be sold currently, but could in the future be challenged to produce data to support a formal FDA-GRAS status. Canada has allowed several markets for hemp and cannabis as a highly- controlled pharmaceutical/nutraceutical. So how does the consumer get direct access to NHP's on their own terms? OTTAWA, SATURDAY, DECEMBER 22, 2001- Pg 4913, 4914 Canada Gazette Part I These Regulations would place requirements on persons who sell NHPs, namely manufacturers, distributors, importers, packagers and labelers. The NHPD considers that growers, who handle and/or treat a product in order to preserve the integrity of the raw material, are not considered manufacturers. Heath care practitioners (for example, pharmacists, Aboriginal healers, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) practitioners, herbalists, naturopathic doctors, etc.) who compound products at the request of a patient are not included within the manufacturer definition, and therefore, the Regulations do not apply to products compounded by these people. EAV conceived of a better way to link customers needs with primary agricultural production and this has been called the Natural Health Products Therapeutic Coop (NHP). The manner in which NHP members can request specially compounded Natural Health Products (NHPs) also specifically exempts these products from mandatory compliance with the NHP regulations being phased in over the next 2 years. This is the niche EAV and its NHP Coop occupy. The members of this coop would also be shareholders. Members would consult with their regular medical doctor, alternative health practitioner, herbalist, traditional Chinese medicine practitioner, or aboriginal healer to monitor their health and specify individual needs to be included with their own personal bar supply. An initial order of base formula bars and consultation would establish that the bar was acceptable to all parties. A long supply contract would be entered into after this. EAV's greatest weakness is its small production runs. This becomes its greatest asset however if its customers demand compounded variants of a basic proprietary food bar formula unique to EAV. Individual health problems or dietary restrictions can be accommodated and individualized bars manufactured on demand. NHP intends to develop a method of gathering health related information from customers and analyzing this information to verify the specific health benefits the base formula and individual custom formulations provide. This Scientific research can then be published. After that application for specific health claims can be made for Lifespan bars. The end point of the initial Research Permits from Health Canada will be the collection of sufficient information to support a GRAS Status application in the USA for both Hemp products (foliage as well as oilseed) and buffaloberry shrub products. As well sufficient data to support product specific health claims is anticipated. Research papers will also be submitted to Scientific Journals for publishing to document discoveries and advances in scientific knowledge. One very special benefit of organizing our business in this way is also that it will exempt it from (allow voluntary rather than mandatory compliance) of the forthcoming Natural Health Products Regulations. For a small, growing business, the cost of immediate, full-compliance would mean that none of the founders of EAV would have the academic qualifications to even work in their own business. Voluntary compliance would mean that EAV could send employees out to further their education and hire them back rather than bringing in new people at the same time as laying off current staff. The business Extropian Agroforestry Ventures (EAV) was formed in 1999 by Arla Johnson, Beaubier, Saskatchewan initially and brought in other partners (investors) later on. Prior to 1999 her husband Morris had performed personal research for 25 years in the area of diet and length of healthy lifespan. Their farm, between 1999 and 2002, has been absorbed by EAV. The farm land now owned by EAV is planted to crops and managed as an organic farm. The land is divided into about 140 strips by tree rows. Land between the trees is currently planted to ordinary field crops. This is a form of Agroforestry called "Alley Cropping". The first trees were planted in 1989. About 200,000 trees (buffaloberry, chokecherry, caragana, sea-buckthorn, oak) have been planted to date. The trees were chosen for 2 traits- the first being that they could survive any climatic changes produced by global warming- the second was that they might be able to be harvested for medical uses. February 1998, it was decided that the time had come to make edible products which contained the medicine of buffaloberry, flax, buckwheat and other complimentary food ingredients. The scientific knowledge acquired between 1973-1999 was converted into the first EAV food bars. During 2000-2001, the name Lifespan was trademarked and the bars themselves changed from a formula to something that was economical to manufacture with a flavor that was good enough that you did not have to be forced to eat it. It was as big a challenge in 2001 to combine the ingredients and make them palatable as it had been to create the basic formula. The original "powerful, Full-bodied flavor" LIFESPAN XXX-TRA AR-MOR Hemp Breakfast snack bar contains: honey, milled hemp seed/flour/oil blend, buffaloberry fruit/leaf/bark/stem blend, natural flavorings (vanilla and vinegar), milled flax seed, cranberry fruit, cocoa, specially milled soy-germ, milled fenugreek seed, a selected variety of milled buckwheat seed, soy lecithin, ginger root, cinnamon bark, spray-dried bovine colostrum, selected grape tannins, turmeric, special selected variety of mustard seed, cloves, rosemary leaf, rice bran, ground sesame seed, Wild Oat flour, stevia leaf extract. Non THC containing food products with Hemp Foliage in addition to oilseeds(oil & hemp oilseed cake - flour) can only currently be accessed with a medical marijuana or research permit from Health Canada. Health Canada has implemented a medical access program for high THC cannabis as well. This program provides 3 levels of access segmented according to the severity or graveness of the illnesses for which medical doctors feel they can prescribe cannabis. This program is not well suited to all those who may apply. Many may wish to obtain the benefits of cannabis without THC in the dosage form of a food bar. Many may wish the benefits of the hemp cannabinoids without the "Buzz" of THC. EAV's founder, Arla Johnson currently holds a "section 56" Health Canada medical marijuana exemption and has enjoyed piloting the use of the hemp foliage containing XXX-TRA Cannabis bar which has been specially compounded for her by Morris. The Lifespan bars go under the basic formula name "XXX-TRA" with custom formulation possibilities : - Fenugreek"(for diabetics), Buffaloberry"(for nutritional support during cancer therapy), Cannabis"(medical marijuana), Broccoli"(for stress ), Buckwheat" (for heart patients), Chlorophyll"(medicinal porphyrins), CLA "conjugated linolenic acid"(for dieters) , Bison "pemmican bar"(jerky) to name a few possibilities Lifespan bars offer carefully selected food items most individuals would have great inconveniences buying individually and incorporating in precise quantities into their daily diet in a stable, palatable combination. NHP Customers/Members or their health care advisors will be able to specify the specific ingredient options they personally require within limitations including - personal limits for daily consumption of individual ingredients, counter-indications between bar ingredients and customers's medications and diet, individual taste preferences. Anticipated customized formulations- deletion of colostrum for the lactose intolerant, sweeteners other than honey (unrefined or pure stevia) for diabetics, Certified organic ingredients, food allergy related functional substitutions(different ingredient with same function). NHP members will be reliable long term, repeat purchasers of bulk packaged product. The distribution chain will include also retail outlets already selling NHPs as well as existing independent medical and alternative medical practitioners and herbalists. The linking of primary production to pure science , product development and finished product sales is critical. To do all of this this cost effectively is the difference between a "good idea" and something that can survive in the real world. Ownership of this NHP coop will be a joint venture between EAV and member-shareholder- investors. The NHP coop will also be the primary source of secure long term revenue to expand EAV past the Canadian boundaries into the USA by its 4th year of operation. EAV costs include R&D, cost or raw product, manufacturing , packaging and bulk distribution. NHP Coop costs include customer service, final distribution and member/shareholder contract setup costs. Scientists have documented health benefits of the individual food ingredients. The consumption of all the ingredients in a Lifespan bar at one sitting provides health benefits not available if they are simply consumed randomly over an extended period of time. It is now time to create the kind of proofs the medical establishment needs in order to recommend that society in general undertake specific diets to increase healthy lifespan. Eav currently sells its bars through stores and independent distributors in western Canada. EAV will soon begin to solicit outside investment and provide sufficient shares to investors commensurate with the risks of this business to underwrite the NHP creation. -ground flax seed is used for its heart healthy omega 3 oils , and antioxidant fibers (lignins). -hemp seed oil contains antioxidants like olive oil is a source of omega3 and GLA fats and plant sterols and stanols for cholesterol management . Certain cancers appear to be reduced, nerve tissues healthier and even the calcium in food is absorbed and put into bone better growth as a result of a generous consumption of omega 3 type oils. -Soy germ isoflavones and the accompanying soy germ nutrient package promote vascular health as well as reducing osteoporosis especially when combined with omega 3 oils. There is reported to be a 10 to 10,000 fold increase in the overall antioxidant effects of certain phenolic/flavone/anthocyanin/tannin food components when combined with soy isoflavones. - buckwheat (specific variety) . Blood vessel health(ACE inhibition), promotion of muscle growth, prevention of Type 2 diabetes are among the many functions of its flavonoids and tannins. -cranberries are naturally antibacterial, a natural preservative, a urinary acidifier, as well as (in combination with certain spice components) oxidative stabilizer of unsaturated omega 3 oils. Cranberry contains some of those useful anthocyanin, polyphenol, flavonoid fytochemicals. -spices like ginger, cinnamon, cloves and turmeric are all functional sources of flavonoids and tannins. As a group they manage blood sugar, reduce inflammation and reduce DNA mutations. -Cocoa as of late has been patented for its hair re-growing and cancer treatment properties which appear to be directly related to its antioxidant properties. -Lecithin is a source of functional phospholipids as well as being part of the glue that helps hold seal , bind and blend all the different food components into one. -rice bran and sesame seed share properties found in both flax and lecithin but have a different antioxidant chemistry. -mustard and radish and cress are crucifers or members of the cabbage family. Their functional components glucosinolates and sulforaphane are one key to reducing whole body cancer risk and chemical (oxidative) stress. -bovine colostrum contains a whole chemistry of its own. Your gut contains nearly the same number of microbes living within it as you have cells in the rest of your body. Lo and behold recent discoveries suggest that gut chemistry profoundly effects ....maybe going so far as to turn on and off genes in distant unrelated parts of the body. Colostrum stabilizes immune function as well as promoting what is believed to be a stable positive gut ecosystem. -buffaloberry berry components have been shown to work together with colostrum in maintaining gut health as well as being a source of fytochemicals similar to buckwheat and cranberry. -hemp seed flour is very high in arginine, an amino acid. In the USA, a food bar , the "Heartbar" promoted to treat or prevent heart disease is on the market This bar has only one functional ingredient L-arginine. -Grape tannins, anthocyanins,flavonoids are the "red wine" derived factors promoted as the "French heart health diet factor" In this bar they also interact with the soy isoflavones for added benefits. Tannins inhibit cancers, treat glaucoma to name but 2 of their functions. -Taken together , buffaloberry shrub leaves, branch growing parts and tree bark has tested as being able to neutralize nearly 100% of all (ROS) body damaging "free radicals". Buffaloberry form the core feature of EAV's Agroforestry farming practices which combine annual and perennial organic crops in narrow strips with trees -Fenugreek and Stevia together manage both high and low blood sugar and promote weight loss