The latest news, trends, analysis, interviews and podcasts from the global food and beverage industry

Symrise has partnered with Kellogg Company in a three-year project in Madagascar that aims to responsibly source 100% of Kellogg’s vanilla by 2020. The partnership builds on the announcement in 2019 that Kellogg joined the “Symrise and Friends” family of private sector partners, which work together to deliver benefits for the vanilla faming communities and the biodiverse environment in which they live. The joint venture will provide ongoing engagement and training for over 1,000 smallholder vanilla farmers in Ankavanana, Madagascar, as the companies aim to improve their livelihoods and protect their environment. Through working closely with the farmers, the companies aim to teach good agricultural practices and budget/cash flow management. According to Symrise, this will empower farmers to run their farms in a sustainable way and be more financially resilient in a volatile market. “The programme drives impact directly at the source of vanilla farming via our integrated supply chain,” said Yannick Leen, global competence director vanilla at Symrise. He added: “The partnership highlights the value of our active and collaborative year-round presence in this unique region. In turn, it ensures the highest quality vanilla, brings certainty and creates shared value for farmers, as well as ensuring sustainability of supply.” Symrise’s approach also includes training and education within the communities and the introduction of alternative crops such as patchouli, vetiver and ginger. This is said to add diversity and mitigate risk. As part of the joint project, Kellogg is said to bring extensive experience of Climate Smart Agriculture. Kellogg Company chief sustainability officer, Amy Senter, said: “Responsibly sourcing our ingredients means making a difference from the very start. That’s why we’re working closely with the farmers who grow them. “Farmers like those in Madagascar aren’t just growing vanilla for people around the world, they’re cultivating healthy soils, diverse ecosystems and strong communities. And across Kellogg, we want to help them do even more.”