Document Type
Oral Presentation
Location
Oxford Conference Center
Event Website
https://oxfordicsb.org/
Start Date
23-4-2026 1:00 PM
End Date
23-4-2026 1:30 PM
Description
Natural product commercialization is contingent to several factors, which if ignored or observed at the wrong time within the development life cycle, may cause serious impediment or result in outright failure. Study of product commercialization, specifically of botanical medicines, supplements and food products in key global markets over the last 150 years elucidated the evolution of these factors and created insights relevant to modern-day product developers. In simple terms, factors can be grouped into four clusters: the ingredients and their properties (covering the gamut from identity and ecological status via biochemistry, to toxicology, pharmacology, and clinical research), sustainable supply chains (e.g., cultivation vs. wild collection, scalability, traditional knowledge and access-benefit-sharing), regulations (governing bioprospecting, export, and regulatory categories and their stipulations in the target markets), and, last but not least, an understanding of the structure and dynamics of the target markets. It is noteworthy that some of these factors were of no relevance historically, their recent emergence and increasing relevance, however, has added significant onus on the product developer and has inadvertently created barriers to market access. This presentation further elucidates why addressing these factors in a timely fashion is paramount for successful commercialization.
Note, this presentation was part of the 2024 schedule and I gave my time to mark who arrived late and missed his presentation slot. It will now be backed by a published paper and thus be more timely.
Recommended Citation
Brendler, Thomas and Wyk, Ben-Erik Van, "What guides natural product commercialization – past and present" (2026). Oxford ICSB. 31.
https://egrove.olemiss.edu/icsb/2026_ICSB/Schedule/31
Publication Date
April 2026
Accessibility Status
Searchable text
What guides natural product commercialization – past and present
Oxford Conference Center
Natural product commercialization is contingent to several factors, which if ignored or observed at the wrong time within the development life cycle, may cause serious impediment or result in outright failure. Study of product commercialization, specifically of botanical medicines, supplements and food products in key global markets over the last 150 years elucidated the evolution of these factors and created insights relevant to modern-day product developers. In simple terms, factors can be grouped into four clusters: the ingredients and their properties (covering the gamut from identity and ecological status via biochemistry, to toxicology, pharmacology, and clinical research), sustainable supply chains (e.g., cultivation vs. wild collection, scalability, traditional knowledge and access-benefit-sharing), regulations (governing bioprospecting, export, and regulatory categories and their stipulations in the target markets), and, last but not least, an understanding of the structure and dynamics of the target markets. It is noteworthy that some of these factors were of no relevance historically, their recent emergence and increasing relevance, however, has added significant onus on the product developer and has inadvertently created barriers to market access. This presentation further elucidates why addressing these factors in a timely fashion is paramount for successful commercialization.
Note, this presentation was part of the 2024 schedule and I gave my time to mark who arrived late and missed his presentation slot. It will now be backed by a published paper and thus be more timely.
https://egrove.olemiss.edu/icsb/2026_ICSB/Schedule/31
Comments
Dr. Thomas Brendler is a scientist and consultant with over 30 years of experience in the field of natural product development, registration, and licensing, for medicine, food, and cosmetics. He is an expert in botanical research, product innovation, regulatory affairs, and sourcing of raw materials. He has contributed to the development and implementation of quality standards, herbal pharmacopoeias, and scientific publications for several organizations and agencies, including the Millennium Challenge Corporation, the Centre for Development of Enterprise, and the International Trade Centre. He is a co-founder and former director of the Association of African Medicinal Plants Standards, a non-profit organization that promotes quality standards for African plants. He holds a PhD in Botany from the University of Johannesburg and has published more than 60 papers and books on topics related to ethnobotany, ethnopharmacology, phytotherapy, and natural product regulation. Dr. Brendler is a member of the editorial boards of several journals, and a board member of the International Society for Ethnopharmacology and of the American Botanical Council. In 2023, he co-founded the Southern African Botanical Products Association (SABPA). In 2024, he was appointed Adjunct Assistant Professor at the School of Pharmacy, University of Illinois Chicago and Adjunct Fellow of the National Center for Naturopathic Medicine, Southern Cross University, East Lismore, Australia. In 2025 he was elected member of the Council of Experts and Chair of the USP Botanical Dietary Supplements & Herbal Medicines Expert Committee for the 2025-2030 cycle.