The importance of herbal industry in local economic development through the example of Bükkszentkereszt

Summary of the 1st prize essay of the MARGÓ Case Study Competition

Abstract

The popularity of medicinal herb products keeps increasing. The demand for them has increased by 10-15 percent annually in the past years. Hungary has a meaningful ecological potential in gathering and in the culture of medicinal herbs. 330 medicinal herbal species are known in the territory of the country. Many herbal products are also requested in other countries. The North Hungarian Mountains is one of the six advantaged regions of medicinal herbs production in Hungary. Bükkszentkereszt has a unique reputation within this region thanks to György Szabó “The Herbal Man of Bükk Mountains”. Bükkszentkereszt lies in a special geographical situation in the territory of the Bükk National Park. It is advantageous for gathering medicinal plants and for tourism. However, it has difficulties in establishing of infrastructure networks and in application of traditional economic development instruments. The utilization of local resources is exemplary in this village by gathering, cultivation, processing and trade of medicinal herbs. The sector ensures permanent job opportunity for 20 people and seasonal employment for more than 50 people. The sector has a determining role in the organization of local community, tourism and marketing activity of the settlement. The initiation of modern instruments of local economic development could strengthen this role and makes regional adaptation possible.

Keywords: cultivation of medicinal herbs, local employment initiatives, protection of local products, health tourism, service packages, regional cooperation.