Since 2012, Import Promotion Desk (IPD) has been connecting importers with new business partners from developing and emerging countries. For producers of natural ingredients, for example, it opens up access to the European market. Buyers in Europe are supported in their sourcing. IPD is funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development and offers neutral services free of charge to all European importers.

Import PromotionDesk (IPD)
Photo courtesy by IPD

In the ten years of its existence, the number of companies in the IPD programme that produce organically and opt for organic certification has been growing steadily. For small and medium-sized enterprises in developing and emerging countries, this is an investment. In the long run, however, it pays off, because the organic label opens many doors on the European market. On the one hand, organic labels serve as an important selling point. In addition, the demand for organically certified natural products has been increasing in Europe for years. At the same time, IPD’s 16 partner countries have great, often undiscovered potential in innovative natural and organic products. IPD experts point out these opportunities and advise exporters on the certification process. Many producers are using traditional methods without using pesticides or artificial fertilizers. Coconut farmers in Indonesia, for example, use the traditional cultivation method of mixed crops. Thereby, they can harvest different amounts of yields throughout the year. Younger companies see organic certification as an important export requirement and the responsible use of natural resources as a matter of course.

Many of the products from developing and emerging countries supplement the product range with an organic version and thus close a gap in the market. For instance, “Savour Route” from Sri Lanka specializes in high-quality organic cinnamon sticks. The company sources its cinnamon from smallholder farmers, works sustainably and participates in the circular economy. Accordingly, “Savour Route” can guarantee consistent product quality. Moroccan dates and Kenyan macadamia nuts are classic specialities, but rarely offered in organic quality. The family businesses “Dar Tommor” from Morocco and “Privamnuts” from Kenya have decided to avoid all chemical treatments. The companies mentioned stand for a wide range of organic quality products that IPD presents every year at BIOFACH in Nuremberg – again, in 2023, under the motto “Organic Sourcing for Development”.

Author: Angie Martinez, Expert Sourcing and Markets Import Promotion Desk (IPD)

Published in the BIOFACH & VIVANESS 2023 Bio Eco Actual Special Edition.

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Read the BIOFACH & VIVANESS 2023 Bio Eco Actual Special Edition