1.3 Plantation vs wild agarwood differentiation

Why origin matters for value, legality, and trust

1. Origin & Sourcing

Feature	Plantation Agarwood	Wild Agarwood
Source	Cultivated in managed plantations, often with inoculation	Naturally occurring in forests, often harvested from endangered trees
Management	Actively monitored, planted, and maintained	Uncontrolled, susceptible to overharvesting
Harvest Predictability	Planned and traceable	Uncertain and opportunistic

2. Legal Status

Feature	Plantation	Wild
Regulatory Compliance	Easier: registered plantations, permits, CNC/ECC, WCuP, harvest logs	Strictly regulated; high risk of illegal harvesting
CITES Considerations	Simplified documentation	Must demonstrate legal acquisition
Buyer Acceptance	Highly preferred in global markets	Buyers increasingly avoid due to legal risk

3. Product Quality & Consistency

Feature	Plantation	Wild
Resin Content & Quality	Controlled through inoculation, age, and maintenance	Variable; often higher quality but unpredictable
Batch Consistency	High—easier grading, traceable	Low—mixed grades, uncertain age
Volume	Scalable	Limited and seasonal

4. Traceability & Verification

Feature	Plantation	Wild
Documentation	Tree ID, GPS, inoculation & harvest logs	Often missing or incomplete
Buyer Verification	QR code & blockchain possible	Harder to verify independently
ESG & Sustainability	Demonstrable	Difficult; high risk of overexploitation

5. Market Implications

• Plantation Agarwood
  • Preferred by exporters and perfumers
  • Easier to obtain premium pricing
  • Lowers risk of rejection and compliance penalties
• Wild Agarwood
  • Often commands very high prices if legal
  • Risk of shipment seizure, buyer rejection, and regulatory issues
  • Increasingly restricted under international trade laws

6. Key Takeaways

1. Origin determines value, risk, and legality.
2. Plantation agarwood is traceable, legal, and scalable.
3. Wild agarwood may be high quality but carries high regulatory and market risk.
4. Traceability systems like AgriTrace and QR-to-blockchain verification make plantation agarwood verifiable and trusted.

Brand Message for Training

“Plantation agarwood protects your investment, ensures market access, and builds buyer trust. Wild agarwood carries value—but also risk. Traceability makes the difference.”

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