IFF and Unilever Launch Partnership to Improve the Lives of Vetiver Farming Communities in Haiti
July 14 2016 - 11:30AM
Business Wire
Collaboration with Oxfam Great Britain, Heifer
International and the Ford Foundation Delivers a Strategic Social
Investment
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Vetiver Together (Graphic: Business
Wire)
International Flavors & Fragrances Inc. and Unilever
announced today a new partnership with leading non-governmental
organizations to enhance the livelihoods of smallholder vetiver
farmers in Haiti. The partnership, Vetiver Together, aims to
sustainably improve food security, increase yields, and diversify
income, while working to support women’s empowerment and
environmental conservation.
Vetiver oil is a common ingredient in many fragrances and an
important crop for Unilever, found in brands such as Axe and
Impulse. Haiti produces some of the best vetiver in the world, and
many farmers rely on cultivation of the root for their entire
source of income. But, due to economic pressures, farmers often
harvest the roots before they are fully mature, leading to low
prices, poor oil yields, deforestation and soil erosion. The
partnership will help farmers address these challenges as well as
provide training to community members - including in crop and
livestock production, soil conservation and nutrition - to help
improve social conditions and diversity of farm production and food
security.
The project is a strategic social investment that recognizes
that improving smallholder and community livelihoods and
strengthening the Haitian vetiver supply chain are mutually
beneficial. It is supported by the Enhancing Livelihoods Fund – a
partnership between Unilever, Oxfam Great Britain, and the Ford
Foundation which backs innovative models to improve agricultural
practices and have a positive social impact, particularly for
women.
“IFF relies on small farming communities for many natural
products. These farmers, their families, and communities are an
important part of our supply chain,” said Andreas Fibig, Chairman
and CEO of IFF. “Sustainability is a key enabler of our Vision2020
business strategy, and this partnership is the embodiment of one of
our key sustainability strategies, Sensational People, in which we
engage our employees and stakeholders to make a positive difference
in the world.”
“Sustainability is integral to how we do business at Unilever –
we aim to enhance the social and economic livelihoods of millions
of smallholder farmers in our supply chain,” said Dhaval Buch,
Chief Procurement Officer of Unilever. “Creating a more resilient
supply chain is essential to make real impact on the ground.
Partnerships, like Vetiver Together, are instrumental if we are to
achieve the level of systematic change that is necessary across
industries and supply chains.”
Heifer International will implement the project and provide
access to livestock which delivers both an additional food source
and diversified income through products that can be bartered and
sold at market.
“Livestock is a vehicle to support families and communities,
provide highly nutritious foods, empower women, and manage economic
risk,” said Pierre Ferrari, CEO of Heifer International. “Coupling
livestock with improvements in the quality of the vetiver crop
through optimized conservation practices makes Vetiver Together a
true example of the good that can happen when multi-stakeholder
partnerships are managed and executed with care.”
“The Enhancing Livelihood Fund is particularly interested in
supporting Unilever suppliers develop new business models that
improve conditions for women, workers and smallholders in an
innovative way. We have learnt from previous work, suppliers play a
critical role.” said David Bright, Head of Economic Justice of
Oxfam GB. “This is why Oxfam together with Unilever and the Ford
Foundation set up the Fund to support Unilever suppliers.”
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version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160714005922/en/
International Flavors & Fragrances Inc.Michael
DeVeau, 212-708-7164VP, Global Corporate Communications &
Investor RelationsMichael.DeVeau@iff.comorCaroline Boin, +44 7917
214 712 (UK)Senior Global Media Relations
ManagerCaroline.Boin@unilever.com
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