Essex is a proud supporter of the Mint Industry Research Council (MIRC). More information on MIRC can be found here: usmintindustry.com 

I asked one of the Essex team members (Thank you, Chris!) to give me a review of the last MIRC meeting, and he provided me with the info below on results and targets within the mint industry.

~LenaB

 

2025 Research Results — High‑Level

  • Peppermint Breeding & Verticillium Resistance
    • 2025 results confirmed continued progress toward Verticillium‑tolerant peppermint lines with improved yield potential.
    • Conversations with Isabelle Henry (UC Davis) reinforced that they have one leading candidate, with strong momentum toward broader, multi‑state evaluation.
    • Tradeoffs between yield, oil quality, and disease resistance remain, but the breeding pipeline is now generating commercially credible options.
  • Disease Screening & Evaluation
    • Work with Jeremiah Dung (OSU) showed progress in disease screening tools, while highlighting the need for clear, consistent Verticillium rating standards to improve alignment between research and breeding decisions.
    • Follow‑up identified an opportunity to better document and harmonize Verticillium scoring for internal and industry use.
  • Agronomy, Processing & Sustainability
    • Sustainability research discussed with Jennifer Moore (USDA‑ARS) showed that returning mint residues to soil can provide carbon and nutrient benefits, supporting soil health and emissions reduction.

2026 Proposed Research — High‑Level

  • Varietal Improvement & Disease Resistance
    • Advance Verticillium‑tolerant peppermint selections emerging from UC Davis and OSU programs.
    • Expand greenhouse and field screening to support scale‑up and commercialization readiness.
  • Integrated Pest & Disease Management
    • Multi‑state insect and disease trials.
    • Evaluation of strategies to extend the productive life of older mint ground.
  • Agronomy & Sustainability
    • Soil, nutrient, and residue‑management studies under disease pressure.
    • Continued work linking production practices to sustainability outcomes.
  • New Markets & Applications
    • Exploratory research evaluating potential new uses and formats for mint oil.