The Sami-Sabinsa Group, a pioneer in science-backed nutraceutical and cosmeceutical ingredients, was honored last week by two separate awards from two respected industry organizations for the company’s cultivation programs.
On Monday, July 16th the Sami-Sabinsa Group’s ambitious 10-year reforestation program of Pterocarpus marsupium trees in India was honored as the NutraIngredients-USA Editors Award for Industry Initiative of the Year. This reforestation program is the first of its kind in the herbal industry: proactively addressing future supply shortfall of a medicinal tree. Anticipating future demand as research confirms traditional Ayurvedic use for diabetes, Sami-Sabinsa learned that the Indian Kino tree population is threatened. Sami-Sabinsa developed and funded a collaborative program to plant 166,600 trees on 250 forest acres over ten years, the first conservation program for this high value threatened tree species in India. Sami-Sabinsa conceived and funded the initiative, with cultivation managed by the reforestation organization Madhya Pradesh Rajya Van Vikas Nigam Limited on land provided by the forest department of the State of Madhya Pradesh. Sabinsa’s proprietary ingredient extracts obtained from Pterocarpus marsupium, and based upon licensed patents, are sold under the brand names, Silbinol® and pTeroSol®.
Nutrition Business Journal honored Sabinsa with the Supply Chain Transparency / Sustainability award for the company’s extensive cultivation program. What began as a way to ensure enough raw material for certain products evolved into a company mission of Indian traditional herb stewardship and support of small farming communities. Through the years they have fine-tuned the program, providing seed to the farmers, training them to grow herbs sustainably and cleanly, and guaranteeing a minimum purchase price to the farmers in times of bad harvest. When herb prices go up Sabinsa pays more for the harvest than the contracted amount. Farmers are taught techniques to naturally repel pests, and given irrigation support in times of insufficient rainfall. The company can trace lots of ingredients to specific farms. They have also hosted many clients and industry trade media representatives on visits to their factories and farms in India, demonstrating transparency in their supply chain.
“This acknowledgment of our commitment to being stewards of traditional Indian botanicals from two respected industry groups in one week is overwhelming and wonderful,” said Shaheen Majeed, Sabinsa President-Worldwide.
“What began years ago as a means to insure raw material supply has turned into a meaningful crusade for us as we experienced the ripple effect of benefits to the environment, local communities, and respecting traditional gifts from nature.”