PhytoTrade Africa maintains strategic partnerships with a number of global organisations active in the fields of conservation and environmental sustainability, Fair Trade, ethnobotanic research and phytochemistry. These partnerships allow PhytoTrade to learn from the experience and knowledge of others, while the resultant synergies have magnified its achievements and impacts. As a result, PhytoTrade Africa has become a key global player in the biotrade sector.
PhytoTrade Africa works internationally with selected partners from the private sector to develop and market commercially viable products based on raw natural ingredients supplied by our members.
Our current commercial partners are:
Aldivia is a French company that specialises in producing natural and organic ingredients for the cosmetics manufacturers. The company has developed a proprietary “green chemistry” process that uses no petrochemicals or solvents and leaves behind a limited carbon footprint.
Together with PhytoTrade Africa, Aldivia has developed the Ubuntu™ range of African natural lipid oils. The Ubuntu™ retain the natural oxidative stability and antioxidant properties of the virgin African oils while also complying with the stringent quality specifications required by international skin care companies.
Afriplex is a South African company that specialises in African plant extracts for the international beverage, pharmaceutical, cosmetic and nutraceutical industries. The company has Africa’s most extensive facilities for the processing and product development of indigenous African plants. Its unique technologies include several patented processes developed in collaboration with South African universities and international research institutes. Afriplex and PhytoTrade Africa have worked together on the development and marketing of baobab fruit powder and extract for international food and drink manufacturers.
Blue Sky Botanics is a UK manufacturer of botanical ingredients for the beauty, food and beverage and herbal medicine industries. Its purpose built factory is located on an award winning farm where organic crops and herbs have been grown and processed for over 25 years. The company produces a vast range of natural extracts, flavours, juices and infusions from herbs, flowers, fruits, vegetables and seaweeds. Blue Sky Botanics is licensed by the Soil Association and strong ethical values are evident throughout the company’s operational activities, raw material sourcing and employment policies. The company is working with Phytotrade Africa on extracts from Kigelia Africana – the African Sausage Tree – for the beauty market.
Vital Solutions works globally in the field of natural ingredients for use in food, dietary supplements and cosmetics. Vital Solutions has a strategic partnership with PhytoTrade Africa to focus on new product developments in Southern African countries. The aim is to evaluate additional applications for traditionally used food plants that have sufficient supply capacity.