Oil-Yielding Peony Industry in China: A Major Move in Building …
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tried to extract oil from peony seeds. Because of the constraints of the processing
techniques, however, such peony oil had poor taste and caused no physical discomfort. From the early 1990s, China started to import large quantities of edible oils and
oilseeds; as the demand for edible oils was basically satisfied, the development of
oil-yielding peony came to a halt. In the late 1990s, peonies were included in the
investigation of woody oil resources. In 2000, based on experiments, testing, and
analysis, it was found in Heze City of Shandong Province that apart from seeds that
can be extracted for oil, the seed coats, petals, stamens, and seed meal of peonies
can be made into various by-products; such findings were reported to the then State
Forestry Administration (now State Forestry and Grassland Administration). Under
the guidance of the authority, the city carried out small-scale experiments in this
regard, which turned out a success. In March 2011, based on a lot of specific materials
and safety reports, the then Ministry of Health (now National Health Commission)
approved peony seed oil to be a “new resource food.” In August 2011 when I worked
as Deputy Secretary of the Party Leadership Group and Deputy Minister of the State
Forestry Administration, I submitted an investigation report on peony seed oil to the
leaders of in charge of agriculture of the State Council, who gave instructions on
August 26 that we should get more information and carry out pilot programs. With
support from the State Council, we conducted experiments on peony growing and
comprehensive use of peony seeds in Heze of Shandong and Luoyang of Henan. The
oil-yielding peony industry in China has since come into being.
On March 18, 2013, I submitted a report on the oil-yielding peony industry to
General Secretary Xi Jinping, Premier Li Keqiang, and then Vice Premier Wang
Yang. All of them made comments on the report, reflecting high attention to the
development of the industry from Party and state leaders. Since then, the oil-yielding
peony industry has developed rapidly and maintained strong momentum. On the
afternoon of November 26, 2013, General Secretary Xi Jinping paid to a visit to Yao
and Shun Peony Industry Park in Heze. He was amazed when learning that peonies
can be used for not only ornamental and medical purposes but also can be turned into
peony seed oil, tea, essential oils, food, and supplements. During the meeting with
local officials in charge, he said, “We learned about the development of the peony
industry and how it has benefited farmers at Yao and Shun Peony Industry Park and
came to know that peonies are not only of value for appreciation and tourism but
also can be processed into value-added products. This has expanded our knowledge.”
The next day, the State Council convened relevant departments directly under the
CPC Central Committee to hold a coordination meeting on the development of the
oil-yielding peony industry. On December 26, 2014, the General Office of the State
Council issued the Opinions on Accelerating the Development of the Woody Oil
Industry (Guo Ban Fa [2014] No. 68), giving prominence to oil-yielding peony.
According to the document, by 2020, 800 key counties growing tea oil camellia,
walnut, peony, and other woody oil plants will be built; a number of demonstration
bases featuring standard, intensive, large-scale, and industrialized operations will be
established; the growing area of woody oil plants will increase from the current 120 to
200 million mu, and the annual output of edible woody oil will reach approximately
1.5 million tons.
285
tried to extract oil from peony seeds. Because of the constraints of the processing
techniques, however, such peony oil had poor taste and caused no physical discomfort. From the early 1990s, China started to import large quantities of edible oils and
oilseeds; as the demand for edible oils was basically satisfied, the development of
oil-yielding peony came to a halt. In the late 1990s, peonies were included in the
investigation of woody oil resources. In 2000, based on experiments, testing, and
analysis, it was found in Heze City of Shandong Province that apart from seeds that
can be extracted for oil, the seed coats, petals, stamens, and seed meal of peonies
can be made into various by-products; such findings were reported to the then State
Forestry Administration (now State Forestry and Grassland Administration). Under
the guidance of the authority, the city carried out small-scale experiments in this
regard, which turned out a success. In March 2011, based on a lot of specific materials
and safety reports, the then Ministry of Health (now National Health Commission)
approved peony seed oil to be a “new resource food.” In August 2011 when I worked
as Deputy Secretary of the Party Leadership Group and Deputy Minister of the State
Forestry Administration, I submitted an investigation report on peony seed oil to the
leaders of in charge of agriculture of the State Council, who gave instructions on
August 26 that we should get more information and carry out pilot programs. With
support from the State Council, we conducted experiments on peony growing and
comprehensive use of peony seeds in Heze of Shandong and Luoyang of Henan. The
oil-yielding peony industry in China has since come into being.
On March 18, 2013, I submitted a report on the oil-yielding peony industry to
General Secretary Xi Jinping, Premier Li Keqiang, and then Vice Premier Wang
Yang. All of them made comments on the report, reflecting high attention to the
development of the industry from Party and state leaders. Since then, the oil-yielding
peony industry has developed rapidly and maintained strong momentum. On the
afternoon of November 26, 2013, General Secretary Xi Jinping paid to a visit to Yao
and Shun Peony Industry Park in Heze. He was amazed when learning that peonies
can be used for not only ornamental and medical purposes but also can be turned into
peony seed oil, tea, essential oils, food, and supplements. During the meeting with
local officials in charge, he said, “We learned about the development of the peony
industry and how it has benefited farmers at Yao and Shun Peony Industry Park and
came to know that peonies are not only of value for appreciation and tourism but
also can be processed into value-added products. This has expanded our knowledge.”
The next day, the State Council convened relevant departments directly under the
CPC Central Committee to hold a coordination meeting on the development of the
oil-yielding peony industry. On December 26, 2014, the General Office of the State
Council issued the Opinions on Accelerating the Development of the Woody Oil
Industry (Guo Ban Fa [2014] No. 68), giving prominence to oil-yielding peony.
According to the document, by 2020, 800 key counties growing tea oil camellia,
walnut, peony, and other woody oil plants will be built; a number of demonstration
bases featuring standard, intensive, large-scale, and industrialized operations will be
established; the growing area of woody oil plants will increase from the current 120 to
200 million mu, and the annual output of edible woody oil will reach approximately
1.5 million tons.