The Sustainability Learning Forum

The Global Organic Covenant

Markus Arbenz, IFOAM e.V.

The food crisis of 2008 and the burgeoning issue of climate change have given rise to a new discourse on agriculture, wherein its role in both creating and addressing global threats is being explored. The practice of agriculture and agribusiness has significant impacts on climate disruption; food insecurity; poverty and social inequity; loss of biodiversity; and the degradation of quality water supplies, soil, and air. more[...] login_required

The Author

Indigenously Produced Organic Fruit

Gerd Pfitzenmeier
Amazon Carribean Guayana

In his factory hidden in the jungle, the French adventurer Pierre Saint-Arroman has taught indigenous workers how to harvest certified organic hearts of palm and pineapples, pack them in cans and ship them to customers in Europe’s organic stores and U.S. malls. With these goods, Amcar and the indigenous people create “benefits for everyone involved”, Richard notes in summarizing the basic business idea. Economic success is, of course, important to him and Pierre Saint-Arroman – but at the same time, they want to help the inhabitants of the Orionoco Delta. “In the first 15 years of our work, Guyana went through economic crises,” Xavier Richard remembers. “Today, the people earn a secure income from Amcar.” more[...] login_required

The Author

Indigenously Produced Organic Fruit

Gerd Pfitzenmeier

“Without the cooperation with the indigenous people,” Xavier Richard knows, “our company would never have been able to thrive as it has.” Since its establishment in 1987, Amazon Caribbean Ltd. (Amcar) has relied on the efforts of thousands of indigenous people from the Arawack, Warrau and Carib tribes in Guyana. In the jungle of the Barima-Waini Basin, they collect the raw materials for Amcar’s products: hearts of palm and pineapple. “Our mission,” the company states accordingly, “is to generate, in partnership with the people in Guyana, economic value added from naturally growing products.” more[...]

The Author

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The Global Organic Covenant

Indigenously Produced Organic Fruit

Indigenously Produced Organic Fruit