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Comic Relief to support baobab project
Comic Relief has just announced that it will support the PhytoTrade Africa Baobab project for the next three years to the tune of £500,000. The funds will go to support the only high quality, sustainable and ethical supply of baobab fruit powder from Africa. "It's a great thing, we are delighted for the support" says Baobab Manager, Rosie Abdy Collins. "The Comic Relief funding will help us to further develop our supply chains to really improve the livelihoods of rural producers in Africa. But it's also really exciting because it ties in with all the events in the UK where Baobab is featuring, such as London's Good Food Show, a Baobab raw food event at the Inspiral Lounge in Camden and the Eden Project" she continued. "We're going to see Baobab in a whole range of delicious new food and drink products, and even on the menus of top London restaurants!"
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Baobab in National Geographic magazine
Our own Lucy Welford spoke to National Geographic magazine about Baobab recently, and you can see the article in the September 2010 issue. Get your copy now and read all about us!
Read more about Baobab at www.baobabsuperfruit.com -
PhytoTrade Africa appoints new CEO
At PhytoTrade Africa’s AGM in Botswana last week, John Cheesmond was appointed as the new CEO. Cheesmond will replace founding CEO, Gus Le Breton, who leaves after nine years to pursue new opportunities in the natural products sector. Announcing the news, Anthea Stephens, Chair of the PhytoTrade Board, said "We are delighted to welcome John Cheesmond to the post of CEO. His extensive experience at the cutting edge of lifesciences innovation brings a new dimension to PhytoTrade Africa. As we embark on our next decade, we look forward to a significant expansion in the positive impacts of our work in Africa."
Cheesmond has wide experience as a senior executive, board member, deal maker and venture capitalist focussed on lifesciences, specialty chemicals and associated innovation-driven sectors. He has served on boards in Europe, the US and Asia; including Ciba Specialty Chemicals, Basel Switzerland, Hexcel Inc NYSE, Orchid Pharmaceuticals and Strides Arcolab, India, Cognis Germany and Inolex Inc USA. He was also a partner at Schroeder Venture Lifesciences and at Deloittes. He is an active member of The London Business School Alumnae Club, Swiss Alpine Club, Human Rights Watch and serves as a Governor of Aiglon College, Switzerland.
Speaking from the PhytoTrade Africa London office, Cyril Lombard, R&D Manager, said "Industry continuously requires new sources of biological resources for innovation, and there is now increased attention on Southern Africa as a source. To convert this interest into benefits, and to comply with the forthcoming Convention on Biodiversity regulations, will require a significant increase in R&D investment and a more focussed commercial strategy. John Cheesmond has the skills and experience to guide us through this and take us to the next level."
Cheesmond said, "I am delighted to join at this important time. There are significant opportunities for PhytoTrade to build on its extensive product pipeline and capitalise on the natural health and wellness megatrends. Gus and his team have done an outstanding job and I'm excited to work with the team to take PhytoTrade forward."
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Get cooking with Baobab...
Why don’t you experience the great taste of baobab and try some of these new delicious recipes, developed by a number of PhytoTrade Africa’s friends? Yozuna’s delicious Baobab Victoria Sponge Cake is flavoured with baobab and is sandwiched together with their award-winning African Baobab Fruit Jam. Baobab jam is also used in mouth-watering starter, Baobab Jam with Melted Camembert and Caramelised Onions from Yozuna. Elephant Pepper’s Baobab Gold chilli sauce adds a real zing to African Baobab Chicken Groundnut stew. Yozuna’s Blueberry and Baobab Lift smoothie provides a tasty and nutritious start to the day. And who can resist indulging in a Spicy Baobab and Pear Muffin or two, using a recipe developed by top Cape Town chef Oded Schwartz. Read more at baobabsuperfruit.com
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YouTube Channel
Visit our YouTube Channel to see our videos and favourites. Including our latest video on Ximenia.
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Baobab fruit gets green light for entry into the United States
The United States Food and Drug Administration (US FDA) has approved PhytoTrade Africa’s GRAS notification “Generally Regarded as Safe” for the African Bao bab fruit giving it the green light for import into the United States. The move was dubbed ‘a lifeline to millions’ by PhytoTrade Africa, the organisation that made the application and represents rural producers from across southern Africa. Baobab fruit powder will be imported into the United States as a highly nutritious ingredient for food and drink products. The healthy drinks and snacks market, including smoothies and cereal bars is a key target. Cyril Lombard, who heads up Market Development at PhytoTrade Africa says “With innovative formulations, Baobab fruit could enable food and beverage formulators to develop products naturally high in fibre and vitamin C. The levels of key vitamins and minerals in Baobab, such as vitamin C and calcium, are significantly superior to those found in well-known superfruits such as blueberry, cranberry and pomegranate”.
“Although further research is required, it is clear from published papers and our own research that Baobab dried fruit pulp contains powerful antioxidants. Ranking of ORAC values shows Baobab dried fruit pulp to have double the capacity of pomegranate and cranberries, and even more than fruits such as blueberries, raspberries and blackberries” he continues. “The PhytoTrade Africa GRAS notification dossier for a depectinised extract is also progressing well. This product will enable formulators to develop beverages and dairy products where the pectins are not desired, or a clear product is needed”.
The iconic Baobab tree – also known as the “upside-down tree” and “The Tree of Life” – is abundant in the southern African bush. Indigenous peoples have eaten its fruit for centuries for its many nutritional properties. It contains over six times more Vitamin C than oranges and twice as much calcium as milk. It is also high in anti-oxidants, iron and potassium and was traditionally used by sailors to stave off scurvy.
Seminar on Natural Product Development for Local and Export Markets
PhytoTrade Africa is running a breakfast seminar on Natural Product Development for Local and Export Markets on Saturday 20th February 2010 from 8.45am to 11am to coincide with the Natural Products and Organics Expo at the Cape Town International Convention Centre.
Finished product experts will be discussing:
- Product development and formulation
- Business strategy and planning
- Branding and packaging
- Marketing and distribution
- Export readiness
Cost: R100 per person, including breakfast and entrance to the Natural Product Expo for the day (worth R50). Parking and additional drinks are not included.
If you would like to attend, please email Marianna to register before 16 February 2010.
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Liz Earle launches Kigelia products from Treecrops
Visit our Youtube channel favourites for a short clip from Liz Earle on their visit to Malawi.
Baobab fruit gets green light for entry into the United States
The United States Food and Drug Administration (US FDA) has approved PhytoTrade Africa’s GRAS notification “Generally Regarded as Safe” for the African Baobab fruit giving it the green light for import into the United States. The move was dubbed ‘a lifeline to millions’ by PhytoTrade Africa, the organisation that made the application and represents rural producers from across southern Africa. Baobab fruit powder will be imported into the United States as a highly nutritious ingredient for food and drink products. The healthy drinks and snacks market, including smoothies and cereal bars is a key target. Cyril Lombard, who heads up Market Development at PhytoTrade Africa says “With innovative formulations, Baobab fruit could enable food and beverage formulators to develop products naturally high in fibre and vitamin C. The levels of key vitamins and minerals in Baobab, such as vitamin C and calcium, are significantly superior to those found in well-known superfruits such as blueberry, cranberry and pomegranate”.
“Although further research is required, it is clear from published papers and our own research that Baobab dried fruit pulp contains powerful antioxidants. Ranking of ORAC values shows Baobab dried fruit pulp to have double the capacity of pomegranate and cranberries, and even more than fruits such as blueberries, raspberries and blackberries” he continues. “The PhytoTrade Africa GRAS notification dossier for a depectinised extract is also progressing well. This product will enable formulators to develop beverages and dairy products where the pectins are not desired, or a clear product is needed”.
The iconic Baobab tree – also known as the “upside-down tree” and “The Tree of Life” – is abundant in the southern African bush. Indigenous peoples have eaten its fruit for centuries for its many nutritional properties. It contains over six times more Vitamin C than oranges and twice as much calcium as milk. It is also high in anti-oxidants, iron and potassium and was traditionally used by sailors to stave off scurvy.
Sarah Venter of Eco Products won the Best In Show Award
Read about it on our award winners page.
Township Trades wins 2009 Award
The winner of the 2009 PhytoTrade Africa Natural Product Award is Township Trades whose dynamic Cape Town based team that have carefully blended Africa’s rich botanical heritage into the Nurture range of natural soaps.
The award, now in its fourth year, is offered to a person, product or business in Southern Africa that has demonstrated commitment to developing ethical and environmentally sustainable products with natural ingredients.
Township Trades wins a cash prize of R20,000 and an all-expenses-paid booth at the 2010 Natural & Organic Products Exhibition.
A social enterprise based in Khayelitsha township in Cape Town, Township Trades aim is to help young adults affected by HIV, and provide young people with the business skills to become independent through trade.
Awards judge Dr Nigel Gerike said “it’s an admirable example of use of sustainably harvested African natural products that empower disadvantaged township people through training and production. Township Trades should be rewarded with this prize for winning supply contracts for retailers in the South Africa and overseas.”
Judge Tatjana von Bormann, co-ordinator for the GreenChoice partnership, commended Township Trades Nurture soaps “of all the nominated products they have gone the furthest in terms of positioning the product to appeal to a wide and sophisticated audience.”
Lucian Russ, Director of Township Trades said "The PhytoTrade award means everything for the whole Township Trades team, as it represents peer recognition and reminds us that we are not alone. There is a whole community working together for the same goals. We will use the prize money to bolster our ability to develop and deliver to more commercial opportunities".
Previous winners of the award include Wildfoods in 2008 for its Marula Stix, Elephant Pepper in 2007 for its Baobab Gold Pepper Sauce and Grinder, and Speciality Foods of Africa in 2006 for its Baobar baobab cereal bar.