S. Korea’s sleep-inducing lettuce to be grown in Australia

A South Korean lettuce variety called heukharang or black harang, which serves as a natural treatment for insomnia is set for cultivation in Australia.

Jeollanamdo Agricultural Research & Extension Services (JARES) developed heukharang, which contains 3.74 milligrams of sleep-inducing lactucin per gram, or 124 times more than regular lettuce.

As the lactucin in regular lettuce is not potent enough to counter insomnia, an adult weighing 60 kilograms would need to consume 4 kilograms of it to induce sleep.

Heukharang would require much less consumption to achieve the desired results.

According to JARES, the Korean chemical firm Isu Chemical Co. has agreed to produce and sell heukharang lettuce in Australia.

Since Australia has strict quarantine laws for imported food but allows the importation of seeds, Isu Chemical Co. has to cultivate heukharang in Australia.

With its high gross national income and high prevalence of adult sleep disorders., Australia is a promising market for high-value-added and functional vegetables like heukharang.

Meanwhile. South Korea's market for insomnia treatment was estimated to be worth 40 billion won in 2020 and has been expanding at more than 5 percent annually.