Employees of Ivoire Organics on their way to a certified pineapple field
Photo: BioTropic
The products grown by Ivoire Organics had the official organic status since 2009. The Naturland Organics requirements not only pay attention to the organic quality of the products, but to environmental and social production methods as well. No major changes had to be made by Ivoire Organics to enable it to qualify for the Naturland certification. Ivoire Organics has enjoyed a respectful working relationship as equal partners with BioTropic from the start, even when times were difficult. It has ensured fair pay for its suppliers, invested in long-term jobs as well as various training projects. The local smallholders are trained in sustainable farming practices and know the sales prices of their products.
BCS inspector Beji Sadreddine during the inspection
Photo: BioTropic
Qualifying for the new Naturland certification will open up better sales opportunities for the Ivoire Organics producer cooperation and a higher income. At the same time the regional economy is supported and this gives the local farmers an incentive to expand the land they cultivate with sustainable ecological practices.
Naturland has been putting successful ecological farming guidelines into practice for more than 30 years, whereby the Naturland guidelines are stricter than the statutory requirements of the EC-Eco-Regulations. Naturland has become involved in international ecological farming since 1986 and it has acquired a great deal of experience in organic farming in the tropics and sub-tropics. With more than 41,000 Naturland farmers throughout the world, the association is one of the largest organic farming organizations.
BioTropic
Daimlerstraße 4, 47167 Duisburg
Phone: +49 203 51 87 60
info@biotropic.com
www.biotropic.com
Author: Visnja Malesic
Source and photos: BioTropic GmbH