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Abstract
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There is an expanding interest worldwide in medicinal and aromatic plants (MAPs)
due to their use as raw materials in the production of medicinal, aromatic and cosmetic
products. Consumers are becoming more health-conscious, paying attention to sustainably
produced natural ingredients of known origin driving the rising demand for plant-based
extracts from the pharmaceutical, food and beverage, cosmetic and agrochemical industries.
At present, about one-third of the drugs used in human societies comprise medicines of
a natural or herbal origin [ 1 ]. Despite the vast growing interest on plant-based extracts,
the sector still needs high technological improvements. Many MAPs are cultivated on
very small surfaces, although encompassing hundreds of species. Advanced and modern
growing techniques are not well established yet in this sector, while the wild harvest of
MAPs is still the common practice. Consequently, growers are facing relevant technical
challenges to produce plants and active compounds as efficiently as possible to meet
market needs
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