In a major step toward sustainability, the Rainforest Alliance and the Ethical Tea Partnership (ETP) -- an international non-competitive alliance of 20 tea packers committed to responsible production -- have signed an agreement that will further their vision of an industry-wide commitment to sustainable agriculture. The organizations have teamed up to build competence within the tea sector to tackle sustainability issues from the grassroots upwards and through to certification. The organizations are jointly developing a program to train producers how to use ETP self-assessment tools should they decide to pursue Rainforest Alliance certification. The training will teach tea growers about certification and farm management practices and introduce the concept of continual improvement to get them on the path toward sustainability. Farmers who can meet Sustainable Agriculture Network certification standards can get their farms certified and leverage their accomplishment by displaying the Rainforest Alliance Certified green frog seal.
"This is the first time that we have worked with an industry body at this level," says Tensie Whelan, president of the Rainforest Alliance. "This innovative commitment will positively change the tea industry and significantly drive it toward sustainability."
Throughout Côte d'Ivoire, smallholder cocoa farmers are challenged by threats to productivity including droughts, pests and aging trees. In an effort to improve the well-being of these producers, a coalition of public and private sector partners launched the Project for the Sustainable Production of Certified Cocoa (PPDC, for its name in French) in 2007. Charged with the task of improving the quality of Ivorian cocoa by encouraging the application of Sustainable Agriculture Network standards on plantations, the initiative has successfully increased incomes, improved management and enhanced environmental protection.
"When you enter a certified plantation, you instantly realize the difference," says Allah Yao Bernard, manager of a 29-acre (12-hectare) farm in eastern Côte d'Ivoire. "The cleanliness, the trees and the housing area -- everything has improved."
Participating farmers have begun to analyze data on the program's impact on productivity and disease -- and their findings are promising. Yields have risen from an average of 1,122 lbs per 2.5 acres (509 kg per hectare) to 1,677 lbs per 2.5 acres (761 kg per hectare), and the number of pods infected with brown rot disease has declined from 513 per 2.5 acres (or one hectare) to 331 per 2.5 acres (or one hectare).
"I am now more convinced than ever that adopting best practice will result in higher yields and better [protection] of the environment," says farmer Ouarme Atome, who planted an additional 38 native shade trees on his 16-acre (6.75-hectare) cocoa farm. "These results will encourage my children to seriously consider going into farming as a business."
Whether the word "sustainability" conjures up images of red-eyed tree frogs, tapirs and scarlet macaws, or farm families enjoying education, healthcare and respectable housing, you and your US-based employees are invited to submit photos depicting the concept to our second "Picture Sustainability" photo contest.
Sponsored by Fujifilm, the contest aims to raise awareness about conservation issues and expand the Rainforest Alliance's collection of beautiful photos for our Web site and newsletters.
"Powerful images can provoke emotional responses and act as calls-to-action the way few other media forms can," explained Rainforest Alliance president Tensie Whelan.
One grand-prize winner will receive a Fujifilm Finepix digital camera and a five-day, four-night rafting and eco-tour for two to Costa Rica. Four category winners will also take home a FinePix camera. All winners will receive an honorary one-year individual membership to the Rainforest Alliance.
Encourage your US-based staff to submit their best conservation photo(s) by November 1, 2009. It may motivate them to think about sustainability, and who knows -- one of them just might win!
Situated at roughly 6,000 feet above sea level, with almost year-round rainfall and stable temperatures, Unilever Tea Kenya's Kericho Estate boasts an ideal climate for cultivating tea. Rainforest Alliance Certified since 2007, it is proving to be a model of sustainable production. Flip through a new online storybook to learn more about the estate and its ambitious sustainability plans.
Marketing Roundup
In Europe, Cote d'Or launched its delicious Dégustation Noir range of dark chocolates made with certified cocoa and available in France. Taylor's of Harrogate now offers Yorkshire Tea with the seal on traditional, decaf and "tea for hard water" products throughout the UK. Finlay's Country Range tea -- sold in the UK --is 100 percent Rainforest Alliance Certified™.
In the United States, Peet's Coffee & Tea began offering Rainforest Alliance Certified Guatemalan coffee, while Explorer's Bounty launched its new Tribal Stone Crackers line made from 100 percent Rainforest Alliance Certified cassava from the Dominican Republic. Vosges Haut Chocolat's line of four chocolate products now bear the Rainforest Alliance Certified™ seal, as do Back to Nature's Chocolate Chunk cookies and Chocolate Delight granola. Throughout the US and Canada, Timothy's World Coffee is promoting our seal on their 100 percent Extra Bold Rainforest Espresso in Costco stores. Canadians can also fill up at one of 490 Shell Canada gas stations and find the Rainforest Alliance Certified seal on its Java Café brand coffee.
In Costa Rica, Sibu Chocolates has launched four products bearing the little green frog, distributed at upscale hotels and bookstores. In Kenya, Kakuzi farms began exporting certified avocados to Europe. In South Korea, consumers can now buy certified coffee through Namyang's French Café. And in Australia and Japan, Lipton made a big splash with its launch of Rainforest Alliance Certified tea.
Rainforest Alliance Certified™ in the News
In the past few months, the Rainforest Alliance and products bearing the Rainforest Alliance Certified seal were mentioned in hundreds of articles printed in publications around the world, including:
- "Rainforest Alliance and Nestlé Nespresso Announce Ecolaboration," The Gourmet Retailer (United States)
- "Holiday Inn Refreshes Kids Eat Free Menu ['Rainforest Adventure']," Egruve.com (United States)
- "IFC changing Davao's agribiz landscape," Sun.Star Davao (Philippines)
- " Les entreprises tiennent à offrir des produits éthiques, " Les Affaires (Canada)
- "Gezond snacken met de Ananas Stick," HLN (Belgium)
- "Unilever Japan launches Lipton with tea grown on Rainforest Alliance Certified farms," Livedoor (Japan)
- "Waslala Produce Cacao con Sello Ambiental," El Nuevo Diario (Nicaragua)
- "Pecuária certificada," Veja (Brazil) (Note: to join the public consultation and discussion about the Sustainable Cattle Standard, currently in development, register online today.)
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