Preserving and restoring biodiversity in wild harvest supply chains
Preserve and restore biodiversity
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At Givaudan we are working hard, not just on International Day for Biodiversity, but every day to preserve and restore biodiversity in the places where we source and operate across the globe.
Our work in wild harvest supply chains – supply chains where botanicals are gathered from unmanaged or minimally managed areas such as forests – is one way we are doing this. This important work to protect some of our most fragile ingredients and ecosystems, is built around three key elements:
Understanding the supply chain context
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Understanding the supply chain context
For example, developing in-depth knowledge of the botanicals sourced, including accurate species identification, harvested plant parts, and an understanding of both the vegetative and reproductive cycles. In addition to this, we assess the ecological landscape where botanicals are found, with attention to ecosystem characteristics, biodiversity-sensitive zones, and risks to natural populations. We promote full transparency and traceability throughout the sourcing process as well as gaining insights into the social dynamics of local communities and harvesters engaged in the supply chain to ensure responsible and ethical practices.
Identifying priority actions on the ground
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Identifying priority actions on the ground
For example, integrating our requirements for responsible sourcing in our supplier engagement and partnering with supply chain and third party experts to promote responsible harvesting and post-harvesting practices, like through the development of technical guidelines for collectors. We also engage and contribute to projects supporting both biodiversity conservation and livelihoods. In addition, and particularly in wild harvest supply chains, we work closely with UEBT, whose responsible sourcing standard is one of the protocols we use for assessing and verifying our suppliers in sourcing regions.
Domestication and cultivation
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Domestication and cultivation
For example, initiating projects where we investigate opportunities for domesticating and cultivating the plants to develop complementary sourcing and to reduce the pressure on the wild supply. Promoting sustainable and ethical wild harvesting while also supplementing this sourcing with cultivated raw material supports both the conservation of the species and sustains the interests and livelihoods of the communities involved.
Wild harvest impact examples
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Our wild harvest impact in action
Some examples
Devil’s Claw, Namibia
Benzoin, Laos
Rhodiola, Central and East Asia
Katemfe, Ivory Coast
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Devil’s Claw is a herbaceous perennial plant native to the Kalahari desert in Southern Africa (Namibia, Botswana, and South Africa) used for supporting joint health. The Devil’s Claw sector in Namibia is a vital yet fragmented industry, characterised by thousands of collectors spread across vast regions. To address the complexities of supply chain activities and monitoring, we are part of a public-private partnership that has been established involving the Namibian Devil’s Claw Exporters Association Trust (NDCEAT), and the German development agency GIZ. This initiative is part of the Bioinnovation Africa programme (BIA).
Through this project, together we have developed and endorsed the Good Agricultural and Collection Practices (GACP+) Guidelines tailored specifically for this supply chain. These guidelines offer comprehensive recommendations, tools, and guidance documents designed to promote sustainability from harvesting through to management systems and ensuring benefits are shared with communities.
Since the inception of the project, over 200 individuals – including community representatives, traders, and harvesters – have been trained on the GACP+ Guidelines. This training empowers stakeholders within the sector to implement sustainable practices effectively.
In addition, four major Namibian Devil’s Claw exporters, representing approximately 80% of the exported volumes, are aligning their operations with these requirements and are actively testing the guidelines within their supply chains, paving the way for a more sustainable and efficient industry. This collaborative effort not only enhances the sustainability of the Devil’s Claw supply chain in Namibia but also supports the livelihoods of local communities involved in harvesting.
Watch more here.
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Native to Indochina’s Laos, Siam benzoin has been known since antiquity for its disinfectant and perfuming properties. Today, Laos holds much of the world’s benzoin resources. The trees from which benzoin is sourced often grow wild and are harvested seven years post-planting. Benzoin gum is collected by villagers in the benzoin plantations or in the forests around the villages.
Through our Responsible Sourcing programme; Sourcing4Good, we are working closely with our local supplier partner. As part of our supplier partner’s programme in three provinces, covering over 200 villages; efforts are designed to help preserve and protect this precious ingredient while safeguarding biodiversity in the areas where it is grown and harvested.
In 2023, our supplier partner launched a UEBT Verification on the supply-chain, obtaining the UEBT Responsible Sourcing level, which validates the good harvest practices in place, besides other aspects, in the 200 villages where the benzoin gum is collected in Northern Laos. The UEBT Verification programme reviews ingredient supply chains across categories including traceability, management systems, environmental practices, biodiversity action plan, social and human rights considerations etc. A supply chain must meet certain minimum criteria across all these aspects to achieve Responsible Sourcing Level, which our supplier partner achieved in this supply chain.
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The roots of the adaptogen Rhodiola plant are used as an ingredient in health and wellbeing products to relieve anxiety and fatigue, Rhodiola is traditionally wild harvested in the Altai mountains, in Central and East Asia.
Our Rhodiogo programme complements the wild sourcing of Rhodiola rosea with cultivated sources, protecting the endangered species while ensuring a sustainable supply.
Through the programme we have established a network of over a dozen technical partners to define optimal agricultural and post-harvest practices and have pioneered the first homemade extract from our partner farmers’ cultivated Rhodiola rosea roots. Read more on Rhodiola.
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Thaumatin, is a rare, extremely sweet ingredient which is part of the fruit from the katemfe plant. Katemfe fruits are sourced from the wild by a network of collectors in Côte d’Ivoire.
Together with our ITRAD entity, we have been developing and supporting the Ivorian Katemfe supply chain for many years, building product traceability, training collectors on sustainable harvesting and post-harvest practices, and now striving to certify the supply chain under the FairWild standard as a gauge of biodiversity conservation and livelihoods upbringing. The first steps, a gap analysis and mapping risks, got under way in 2024. In 2025 we will follow up with activities to improve practices. Read more on Katemfe.