Photo: The Amway Botanical Research Center in Wuxi, China.
To facilitate the study of plants integral to Amway’s best-selling Nutrilite supplement line, the company has opened the Amway Botanical Research Center in Wuxi, China.
The $13 million site, which Amway developed over the past two years, comprises a laboratory and large greenhouse built on 84 acres of farmland. In a statement, the Michigan-based company said it will use the site to research soil nutrients, plant physiology, extract quality standards and processes.
Chinese herbal medicines, which use plants and botanicals to promote optimal health and natural balance, were a source of inspiration for Carl Rehnborg, the creator of Amway’s Nutrilite brand of vitamins and dietary supplements.
“The new ABRC is our effort to research and understand botanicals to a greater extent—using the most advanced technology and scientific practices—and integrate the findings into our products,” George Calvert, Chief Supply Chain and R&D Officer, said in a statement.
Amway has acquired 6,400 acres of certified-organic farmland across Brazil, Mexico and the U.S., in addition to its newest site in China. The company spent three years inspecting various sites before selecting the Wuxi location on account of its optimal growing conditions.