BRGV Buzău highlights the importance of preserving Romania's medicinal plants

The Banca de Resurse Genetice Vegetale (BRGV) in Buzău is sounding the alarm about the disappearance of valuable native medicinal plants. With over 200 species of aromatic and medicinal plants in Romania, many are becoming increasingly rare due to environmental factors and climate change.

Director Costel Vînătoru emphasizes that well-documented medicinal plants are disappearing from the landscape. For example, arnica and wormwood, both appreciated in the medical community, are now harder to find in Romania. He notes that the country once enjoyed significant revenues from exporting medicinal plant extracts, a tradition that is at risk due to these changes.

The Association of Plant Producers Planta Romanica, led by Anca Daniela Raiciu, highlights the toxicological risks associated with genetically modified plants. She states that genetic modification can alter the balance of active substances in plants, potentially affecting their therapeutic properties. Changes to plants such as mints, lavender, chamomile, and calendula could influence their medicinal effectiveness and lead to unwanted compounds.

On June 17, the European Parliament signed an agreement regarding plants obtained through new genomic techniques (NGTs), marking a significant step in the adoption of new legislation proposed by the European Commission in 2023. Vînătoru cautions that there are no long-term studies on the environmental impact of NGT-derived plants, raising concerns about the effects on traditional sectors like pharmacy in Romania.

Raiciu also stresses that the biodiversity of medicinal plants is a strategic resource for the country, particularly for vulnerable populations, including the elderly. The introduction of NGTs could disrupt ecological agriculture and further endanger Romania's rich heritage of medicinal plants.