TY - JOUR
T1 - Promoting sustainable businesses for strong local communities
T2 - Qatar's wild herbal plants industry
AU - Bejarano, Macro Johann Sebastian
AU - Rodrigues, Thiago Sabatinelli
AU - Sánchez, Columba Marcelli
AU - Al-Ghanim, Kaltham
AU - Al-Saidi, Mohammad
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2020 The Authors
PY - 2020/12
Y1 - 2020/12
N2 - Herbal medicine can improve economic diversification and sustainable livelihoods of local communities. In fact, the demand for herbal medicine is increasing globally while policymakers also value non-economic benefits, e.g. preserving traditions/heritage, enhancing communities’ cohesion/trust and promoting sustainable practices towards a low-carbon, low-energy and low-metabolism future. The paper discusses the context, opportunities and challenges for developing a medicinal herbal plants industry in Qatar. A literature review was carried out on international experiences in medicinal herbs businesses, with a focus on countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). Qualitative data were collected through interviews with smallholders in the herbal medicine industry and experts in order to make a characterization of the business models in Qatar. The herbal medicine industry in Qatar consists of small entrepreneurs that share characteristics with traditional herbalists. It is challenged by the capacity of businesses to enhance resource-efficient production processes through environmentally friendly cultivation and commercial trade.
AB - Herbal medicine can improve economic diversification and sustainable livelihoods of local communities. In fact, the demand for herbal medicine is increasing globally while policymakers also value non-economic benefits, e.g. preserving traditions/heritage, enhancing communities’ cohesion/trust and promoting sustainable practices towards a low-carbon, low-energy and low-metabolism future. The paper discusses the context, opportunities and challenges for developing a medicinal herbal plants industry in Qatar. A literature review was carried out on international experiences in medicinal herbs businesses, with a focus on countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). Qualitative data were collected through interviews with smallholders in the herbal medicine industry and experts in order to make a characterization of the business models in Qatar. The herbal medicine industry in Qatar consists of small entrepreneurs that share characteristics with traditional herbalists. It is challenged by the capacity of businesses to enhance resource-efficient production processes through environmentally friendly cultivation and commercial trade.
KW - Business models
KW - Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC)
KW - Medical herbs
KW - Qatar
KW - Sustainable communities
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85098888691&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.egyr.2020.10.058
DO - 10.1016/j.egyr.2020.10.058
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85098888691
SN - 2352-4847
VL - 6
SP - 80
EP - 86
JO - Energy Reports
JF - Energy Reports
ER -