“The hardest thing to see is what is in front of youreyes.” - Goethe

Moringa and other highly nutritious plant resources: Strategies, standards and markets for a betterimpact on nutrition in Africa. Accra, Ghana, November 16-18, 2006

These leaves could save millions of lives.

The Moringa Tree

Moringa oleifera

NutritionDisease PreventionOintmentAlley CroppingFertilizerErosion ControlWater PurificationCosmeticsTextile PrintingInsecticideFungicideLubricantsTanning LeatherDyeFiber ProductsFencesOrnamentation & ShadeWind BarrierCane Juice ClarifierHoney ProductionCondimentCooking OilHoney ClarifierFood

Traditional medicine:AnemiaAnxietyAsthmaBlackheadsBlood impuritiesBlood pressureBronchitisCatarrhChest congestionCholeraColitisConjunctivitisCoughDiabetesDiarrheaDropsyDysenteryEye and ear infectionsFeverGlandular swellingGonorrheaHeadachesHysteriaIntestinal wormsJaundiceLactationMalariaPain in jointsPimplesPregnancyPsoriasisRespiratory disordersScurvySemen deficiencySkin infectionsSore throatSoresSprainStomach ulcersTuberculosisTumorUrinary disordersWounds

Ancient WorldKnowledge

ScientificKnowledge

Nutritional Value

Tiny leaves.

Enormous Benefits.

Gopalan, C. et al. Nutritive value of Indian foods,1989

It’s like growing multi-vitamins at your doorstep.

Rare for aplant source,

Moringaleavescontain allthe essentialamino acids…

...to build strong, healthy bodies.

English: Drumstick tree, (Horse)radish tree,Mother’s best friend, West Indian ben

Spanish: Ben, Árbol del ben, Morango, Moringa

French: Bèn ailé, Benzolive, Moringa

AfricaBenin: Patima, Ewé iléBurkina Faso: ArgentigaCameroon: Paizlava, DjihiréChad: Kag n’dongueEthiopia: Aleko, HalekoGhana: Yevu-ti, ZingerindendeKenya: MrongeMalawi: Cham’mwanbaMali: NévrédéNiger: Zôgla gandiNigeria: Ewe ile, Bagaruwar makaSenegal: Neverday, Sap-SapSomalia: DangapSudan: RuwagTanzania: MlongeTogo: Baganlua, YovovotiZimbabwe: Mupulanga

AsiaBangladesh: SajinaBurma: DandalonbinCambodia: Ben ailéIndia: Sahjan, Murunga, MoongaIndonesia: KalorPakistan: SuhanjnaPhilippines: MulangaiSri Lanka: MurungaTaiwan: La MuThailand: MarumVietnam: Chùm Ngây

South and Central America, CaribbeanBrazil: CedroColombia: AngelaCosta Rica: MarangoCuba: Palo JeringaDominican Republic: Palo de aceitiEl Salvador: TeberintoFrench Guiana: SaijhanGuadeloupe: MolokoGuatemala: PerlasHaiti: BenzoliveHonduras: Maranga calaluNicaragua: MarangoPanama: JacintoPuerto Rico: ResadaSuriname: KelorTrinidad: Saijan

OceaniaFiji: SajinaGuam: KatdesPalau: Malungkai

Common NamesNative to the Indian sub-continent, Moringa has spread around theworld.

MalnutritionMoringa

Nutrition • Disease Prevention • Ointment • Alley Cropping • Fertilizer • Erosion Control • Water Purification • Cosmetics • Textile Printing • Insecticide • Fungicide • Lubricants • Tanning Leather • Dye • Fiber Products • Fences • Ornamentation & Shade• Wind Barrier • Cane Juice Clarifier • Honey Production & Clarifier • Condiment • Cooking Oil • Food • Traditional medicine: Anemia • Anxiety • Asthma • Blackheads • Blood impurities • Blood pressure • Bronchitis • Catarrh • Chest congestion • Cholera • Colitis • Conjunctivitis • Cough • Diabetes • Diarrhea • Dropsy • Dysentery • Eye and ear infections • Fever • Glandular swelling • Gonorrhea • Headaches • Hysteria • Intestinal worms • Jaundice • Lactation • Malaria • Pain in joints • Pimples • Pregnancy • Psoriasis • Respiratory disorders • Scurvy • Semen deficiency • Skin infections • Sore throat • Sores • Sprain • Stomach ulcers • Tuberculosis • Tumor • Urinary disorders • Wounds

Seeds:Water PurificationMedicineOil

Gum:Medicine

Leaves:NutritionMedicine

Trees:Alley CroppingErosion Control

Flowers:Medicine

Pods:NutritionMedicine

Bark:Medicine

Roots:Medicine

Consider the PossibilitiesConsider the Possibilities

“Although few people have ever heard of it today, Moringa could soonbecome one of the world’s most valuable plants, at least in humanitarianterms.” - Noel Vietmeyer, US National Academy of Sciences, Washington D.C.

“Moringa shows great promise as a tool to help overcome some of themost severe problems in the developing world—malnutrition,deforestation, impure water and poverty. The tree does best in the dryregions where these problems are worst.” - Andrew Young, former Atlanta Mayor and United Nations Ambassador

“Green leafy vegetables and fruits supply much needed essentialmicronutrients like beta-carotene [vitamin A], vitamin C, folic acid,and also calcium and potassium. Moringa leaves in particular are arich, inexpensive source of micronutrients.” - Dr. C. Gopalan, President, Nutrition Foundation of India

The Need:LocalizedScientificStudies

Intensive Cultivation

Need for Studies

• Human

• Livestock

• Crop Enhancement

• Biogas

• Bring traditional knowledge to the attentionof the scientific community.

Trees for Life JournalTFLJournal.org

International forum on beneficial trees and plants to:

• Foster and propagate small-scale fieldstudies of traditional claims to promotefurther scientific studies.

• Effectively translate scientific knowledge forapplication at the grassroots level.

Consider the PossibilitiesNutrition • Disease Prevention • Ointment • Alley Cropping • Fertilizer • Erosion Control • Water Purification • Cosmetics • Textile Printing • Insecticide • Fungicide • Lubricants • Tanning Leather • Dye • Fiber Products • Fences • Ornamentation & Shade• Wind Barrier • Cane Juice Clarifier • Honey Production & Clarifier • Condiment • Cooking Oil • Food • Livestock • Crop Enhancement • Biogas • Medicine: Anemia • Anxiety • Asthma • Blackheads • Blood impurities • Blood pressure • Bronchitis • Catarrh •Chest congestion • Cholera • Colitis • Conjunctivitis • Cough • Diabetes • Diarrhea • Dropsy • Dysentery • Eye and ear infections • Fever • Glandular swelling • Gonorrhea • Headaches • Hysteria • Intestinal worms • Jaundice • Lactation • Malaria • Pain in joints • Pimples • Pregnancy • Psoriasis • Respiratory disorders • Scurvy • Semen deficiency • Skin infections • Sore throat • Sores • Sprain • Stomach ulcers • Tuberculosis • Tumor • Urinary disorders • Wounds