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Move over goji, here comes Baobab!

Baobab fruit pulp is set to be the latest nutritious and exotic food to hit supermarket shelves in Europe, following novel foods approval by the European Commission. The iconic Baobab is a common feature of the landscape in southern Africa and its fruit has been eaten for generations across Africa.  It has an exceptionally high Vitamin C content, is rich in anti-oxidants, natural fibre and an excellent source of calcium and iron.

Under EU legislation, any food that has not been eaten in Europe prior to 1997 is classified as a “novel food” and must gain special approval before it can be used in products for the European market. An application for novel foods approval for Baobab was made by PhytoTrade in 2006 and was supported by an independent committee of scientists appointed by the UK’s Food Standards Agency (FSA).

"Baobab fruit pulp is an ideal ingredient for cereal bars and smoothies" said PhytoTrade’s Cyril Lombard. "Novel foods approval will be a winner for consumers, manufacturers and producers. It will also be fantastic news for Africa, making a real difference to poor rural communities by offering them a potentially life changing source of income." A 2007 report by Ben Bennett of the UK’s Natural Resources Institute estimates that Baobab has the potential to be a billion dollar industry for Africa and could employ over 2.5 million households.

Baobab approval imminent

The fruit of the African Baobab tree could soon be latest nutritious and exotic food to hit supermarket shelves in Europe, pending a decision by the European Commission’s Novel Foods Committee expected in the next few weeks. The iconic Baobab is a common feature of the landscape in southern Africa and its fruit has been eaten for generations across Africa.  It has an exceptionally high Vitamin C content, is rich in anti-oxidants, natural fibre and an excellent source of calcium and iron.

Under EU legislation, any food that has not been eaten in Europe prior to 1997 is classified as a “novel food” and must gain special approval before it can be used in products for the European market.An application for novel foods approval for Baobab was made by PhytoTrade in 2006 and was supported by an independent committee of scientists appointed by the UK’s Food Standards Agency (FSA).

‘Baobab fruit pulp is an ideal ingredient for cereal bars and smoothies” said PhytoTrade’s Cyril Lombard. Novel foods approval will be a winner for consumers, manufacturers and producers. It will also be fantastic news for Africa, making a real difference to poor rural communities by offering them a potentially life changing source of income.’ A 2007 report by Ben Bennett of the UK’s Natural Resources Institute estimates that Baobab has the potential to be a billion dollar industry for Africa and could employ over 2.5 million households.

Newsletter Number 22 Available Now!

The latest newsletter has been issued and is available for download as a pdfpdf file.

Old Newsletters available in the Archive. Sign up for our newsletter here.

Formulating for Development

PhytoTrade Africa is starting a new initiative called “Formulating for You and Development”.  The Association is developing guidelines that establish the best formulation criteria not only for the consumer, but also ensure that optimum percentages of raw materials - specifically lipid oils and botanical extracts - are included in formulations to ensure meaningful financial returns to producers.  This provides a guarantee to consumers that the product is not only formulated with the best possible levels of active ingredients, but also that through purchasing the product, they are making a contribution to community development amongst producer groups that we work with across southern Africa.

Union for Ethical BioTrade Launched

The Union for Ethical BioTrade was launched at Vitafoods International trade fair in Geneva on 8 May 2007. PhytoTrade Africa has been working with UNCTAD towards setting up this Union as an organisation to promote and recognise ethical and biodiversity-friendly trading practices. The Union has generated a lot of support and interest, and representatives from PhytoTrade Africa, IFC and IUCN's head office were present at the launch meeting, all of which are part of the founding membership. At its founding meeting, the members present elected a twelve-person Board to manage the affairs of the UEBT.

Founding members include: Aldivia S.A., (France), Cocoamar-ket (Ecuador), Comercia Alternativo de Produtos No Tradicionales y Desarrollo en Latinoamerica (CANDELA, Peru), Comisión de Promoción del Perú (PROMPERÚ, Peru), Corporación de Promoción de Exportaciones e Inversiones (CORPEI, Ecuador), the International Finance Corporation (IFC), Labfarve, Laboratorios Fitofarma e.i.r.l. (Peru), Nativa (Colombia), Natura Cosméticos S/A (Brazil), Organic partners (UK), PhytoTrade Africa (Southern Africa), Peruvian Nature S&S SAC, Pi Environmental Consulting (Switzerland), Sustainway (France), Uganda Export Promotion Board (UEPB), the United Nations Foundation (UNF), and the World Conservation Union (IUCN).

Visit www.uebt.ch for more information.

Download the description as a pdf link482k pdf here

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Ubuntu Natural™: Fair Trade African magic mixed with cutting edge green technology

Elizabeth Dlamini, herbalist and skincare adviser to a whole generation of local women has skin that glows.  She beams as she explains why.  “Here in the Royal Kingdom of Swaziland we are proud of our plants that we use in our traditional beauty regimes.  Our grandmothers taught us how to prepare cosmetics from the oil of the Marula nut” she continues. Now, Swaziland’s best kept beauty secret is brought to the international cosmetics market by Ubuntu Natural™ at InCosmetics 2007.

lusangoThe Ubuntu Natural™ range, was launched three years ago by Aldivia®, innovative specialist in plant actives for cosmetics and PhytoTrade Africa, the Southern African Natural Products Trade Association.  The range brings the exceptional natural properties of Baobab, Marula, Ximenia, Mongongo, Kalahari melon, and Mafura to the cosmetic industry. The partners have enshrined their common values in the Ubuntu charter.

Fair Trade and protection of the Environment are at the core of the project: “The natural African oils such as those sourced from Elizabeth Dlamini’s community in Swaziland are now on course for organic certification and exclusively sourced through ethical supply chains” says PhytoTrade Africa Chief Executive, Gus Le Breton.  “In addition, we guarantee that Ubuntu Natural™ lipids have been produced using indigenous plant materials that have been sustainably wild-harvested by the primary producers, actively protecting biodiversity”, he continues. “And we are now introducing tree nurseries throughout the region to minimise our carbon footprint”, he adds.

“Much research and development was necessary to meet Northern market requirements” says Pierre Charlier, CEO of Aldivia®. “The Ubuntu Natural™ range, thanks to our green technology development, offers virgin oils of excellent quality that are perfectly safe from a microbiological and toxicological standpoint”.

Aldivia® is also launching Viatenza® a range of brand new water dispersible derivatives. Mikaële Raynard, manager of the Aldivia® R&D department, says “from 100% vegetable origin, Viatenza® can be used in certified organic and ecological cosmetics. African oils in shampoos, shower gels, lotions, bath oils as well as anti-ageing and emollient milks and creams can now provide a green solution for many formulations”.

“Our clients can be confident about the contribution they are making to local livelihoods through purchasing products that contain our oils” enthuses Pierre Charlier. “By creating new markets for African raw materials, PhytoTrade Africa,  Aldivia® and our customers add value at the local level, preserve traditional culture, and are safe in the knowledge that indigenous trees will be conserved for generations to come”.

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Certification Update

PhytoTrade Africa is committed to supplying high quality, ethical and environmentally sustainable products to our clients:  third party certification is a key tool for verifying this.  We provide grants and advice to our members to help them attain certification, as well as lobbying certifiers to consider the Southern African context within which these products are produced. This will make PhytoTrade Africa members world leaders in supplying Certified Indigenous raw materials. All PhytoTrade Africa products are produced to Ubuntu Natural™ standards that enshrine: Fair and reliable supply chains; Commitment to biodiversity conservation; Social and regulatory equity; Green technology. Ubuntu Natural™ products include: Marula oil, Kalahari Melon Seed oil, Mafura butter, Baobab oil, Ximenia oil, Parinari oil, Mongongo oil. Read the the Ubuntu Natural™ charter here.

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Organic (EcoCert)

  • Devil’s Claw (Certified Dec ‘06)
  • Marula oil, Kalahari Melon Seed oil and Baobab oil (Certified Feb '07)
  • Mafura butter and Ximenia oil are preparing for EcoCert examination (June ’07)

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Fair Trade (FLO)

News is expected soon about the following products that are currently being assessed by the Standards Unit at FLO: Marula, Kalahari Melon Seed, Ximenia, Trichilia, Baobab, Mafura, Parinari, Mongongo.

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The Union of Ethical BioTrade (UEBT)

Guided by the Convention on Biodiversity (CBD), membership of the UEBT provides a mechanism for verification according to their compliance and improvement with:

  • Conservation of biodiversity
  • Sustainable use of biodiversity
  • Equitable sharing of benefits
  • Socio-economic sustainability
  • Compliance with national and international legislation and agreements
  • Respect for the rights of actors involved in BioTrade activities
  • Clarity about land tenure, use and access to natural resources and knowledge.

PhytoTrade Africa is supporting this initiative as it is applicable to all stakeholders in the supply chain, and encompasses sustainability through considering ethics alongside environmental priorities. http://www.uebt.ch/

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PhytoTrade Africa in the news again!

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Newsletter Number 21 Available Now!

The latest newsletter has been issued and is available for download as a pdfpdf file.

Old Newsletters available in the Archive.

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Download our amazing new video! For A Better World (QuickTime 11.4Mb)

Ubuntu Natural™: Fair Trade African magic mixed with cutting edge green technology.
(pdf86kb pdf press release)

The green bible for practical answers to environmental issues (External Link)

Afriplex / PhytoTrade partnership pdf49kb pdf here

PhytoTrade to present at the XVII International Botanical Congress

What Is Fair Trade?

Download our "What is Fair Trade?" pdf316kb pdf here.

PhytoTrade attends Business Linkages Forum

From 1st to 4th September 2004, PhytoTrade Africa represented our members at the Business Linkages Opportunities for Africa Forum (WSSD +2) held at the Sandton Conference centre in Johannesburg. PhytoTrade exhibited jointly with IUCN South Africa and used the opportunity to further develop the partnership with IUCN's Natural Products initiative. Alistair Ruiters, Director General of the South African Department of Trade & Industry (DTI) said "the DTI considers BGOAF as one of the vehicles through which our objectives within the NEPAD framework can be achieved, in particular the promotion of intra-African trade." The event incorporated a National Sustainable Development Conference and Thematic Round Tables, a Sustainable Development Best Practice Exhibition, a Learning Centre, Media Workshop and Doing Business in Africa Workshops. During the exhibition, PhytoTrade was also able to hold useful discussions with Cosmetichem, the South African distributor for Aldivia.

Research and Development summary findings available

In the members only section of this website, PhytoTrade members can access a summary of the Phase One R&D findings that are a result of research commissioned in 2003 by PhytoTrade. Full copies of the reports will be available to members from March 2004 onwards, either in downloadable PDF format from the Members Only section of the website or in hard copy format upon application to the PhytoTrade office. Login Here.

“New trends in skin care and anti-aging”

PhytoTrade Africa ran a very successful Cosmetic Formulation Course on 15-17th November in Harare with South African expert Professor Aubrey Parsons, who also gave a public lecture at the Royal Harare Golf Club entitled “new trends in skin care and anti-aging”. Thirty PhytoTrade members from the Southern African region attended the course.

Gus with AubreyAubrey teachingPhytotrade students

PhytoTrade Africa Chief Executive, Gus le Breton and Professor Parsons at the public lecture hosted by PhytoTrade held at the Royal Harare Golf Club

 

Professor Parsons demonstrating how to formulate a hand and body lotion

“New trends in skin care and anti-aging”

PhytoTrade Africa proudly presents “New trends in skin care and anti-aging”, a public presentation by internationally renowned cosmetic formulation expert, Professor Aubrey Parsons.

Aubrey Parsons has had a long and distinguished career at the cutting edge of cosmetic formulation. As well as being an Honorary Professor at Witwatersrand University, he provides consultant formulation services to a wide range of companies in the field of cosmetic science and skin chemistry. He is a Fellow of the British Flavour and Fragrance Research Institute, prominent member of the Society of Cosmetic Chemists South Africa, and the only African representative on the board of the International Cosmetic and Dermatological Committee.

Where: Royal Harare Golf Club, Harare, Zimbabwe

When: Monday 15th November, 5.30pm

Who should attend: Industry representatives, researchers, students, retail representatives and interested individuals. All welcome.

Tickets available on the door $80,000 including drinks and snacks, $60,000 students and retirees.

PhytoTrade Africa in new partnership with Aldivia

At Natural Products Europe Expo, held in Amsterdam on 4-6th June 2003, PhytoTrade signed a ground-breaking partnership with the French specialist lipids company, Aldivia S.A.. Chief Executive, Gus Le Breton, says "we provide a unique opportunity for international companies like Aldivia to access to new and exciting natural products from Africa. It's a win-win situation: in addition to bringing new products on to the European market, we're also developing new income opportunities for rural producers in Southern Africa. Every product our members sell contributes directly to improving rural livelihoods, and to doing so in a manner that is environmentally sustainable".

The aim of the new agreement with Aldivia is to collaboratively develop and market a range of biologically active lipid ingredients for cosmetics derived from Southern African botanical resources. Pierre Charlier of Aldivia commented, "Aldivia is specialised in sourcing, design, manufacture and commercialisation of lipids of plant or vegetable origin for cosmetic and industrial use. It's a real opportunity for us to develop a really equitable partnership with PhytoTrade. Thanks to this agreement, we can offer new natural active products for cosmetics while developing income opportunities for rural producers in Southern Africa. But we want to go further. We want to create ranges of vegetable lipids derived from these resources with the aim of answering wider cosmetic needs. We are convinced of the benefits of using glycerides, that's why we make derivatives, so we can cover lots of cosmetic applications and bring added value to these products".

 

Cyril and Nyarai

Cyril and Nyarai discuss the unique properties of the baobab fruit with Esmeralda from Aldivia

Natural Products Europe Trade Fair

PhytoTrade Africa exhibited at it's first major international trade show: Natural Products Europe (June 4th - 6th 2003). We were the only African exhibitor there, and our members products generated a lot of interest from the cosmetics, pharmaceutical and food industry. The show was also a milestone for PhytoTrade, as we signed a ground-breaking partnership agreement with Aldivia SA, a French specialist lipids company. We look forward to a fruitful and productive relationship with Aldivia.

attracting attention

The stand attracted a lot of attention

explaining

Nyarai explains the range of PhytoTrade oils to a potential client

SANProTA GETS A NEW NAME

In our quest to stay ahead of the game, we’ve revamped ourselves. On 1st June 2003, SANProTA (the Southern African Natural Products Trade Association), officially became known by its new name: PhytoTrade. In conjunction with the name-change, we’ve launched an entirely new corporate image – new logo, new colour-scheme, new fonts, new persona. But relax - we’re still offering the same high quality products and services to our members and clients!

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