News Archives - Page 20 of 20

Mission to Morocco

Aafke van Sprundel2013-11-13T15:28:16+00:00November 13th, 2013|Tags: FairWild, Mediterranean MAPs, Morocco, National Strategy for Sustainable Management and Development of MAPs, wild-collection|

In the framework of the National Strategy for the Sustainable Management and Development of Medicinal & Aromatic Plants (MAPs), ProFound consultants Bert-Jan Ottens and Gustavo Ferro headed to Morocco last October for a two-week mission. During these two weeks, ProFound combined efforts with the other project partners and acted on two main fronts: engaging with the private sector and elaborating a resource assessment strategy for the project species (rosemary, thyme, pyrethrum, and oregano). The mission encompassed strategic meetings, field and company visits and workshops. During the field visits, ProFound accompanied the project team to cooperatives and wild collection areas in [Read more]

Making progress in Ethiopia’s beekeeping sector

Aafke van Sprundel2016-10-11T12:59:21+00:00October 24th, 2013|Tags: ASPIRE, beekeeping sector, Ethiopia|

Since the inception phase of the programme to develop Ethiopia’s beekeeping sector was finished, ProFound introduced its 4-step programme to facilitate market access: Market analysis and company audits GAP analyses Marketing strategies Trade fair participation and matchmaking Earlier this year, ProFound already presented the results of its market analysis to stakeholders in Ethiopia and organised a workshop on the same topic. In August, the first 7 companies were audited by ProFound and its partners. The audits showed some interesting results. Many of the companies have ambitious marketing plans and some of them are close to realising their goals in the [Read more]

Supporting ProEcuador’s business intelligence

Aafke van Sprundel2016-11-01T16:28:14+00:00June 28th, 2013|Tags: chocolate, Ecuador, Pro Ecuador, quinoa|

ProEcuador was established recently to widen and deepen the Ecuadorian export offer and to support Ecuadorian companies that want to enter export markets. ProEcuador has established a business intelligence and export support team to provide market intelligence and advice. Next to building a stronger sector specialisation within these teams, there is also a need for capacity building on how to do research, how to analyse outcomes to meet the specific needs of Ecuadorian exporters and how to present information in a user friendly way. Using the market intelligence products developed by ProFound on quinoa and chocolate, staff of these departments [Read more]

ProEcuador seminars: quinoa and chocolate

Aafke van Sprundel2016-11-01T16:28:14+00:00June 28th, 2013|Tags: CBI, chocolate, Ecuador, Pro Ecuador, quinoa|

ProFound’s consultant Robbie Hogervorst recently conducted two dissemination workshops in Quino, Ecuador. These were a follow-up activity of market intelligence products developed by ProFound for ProEcuador and Ecuadorian SME exporters of quinoa and chocolate. In close coordination with ProEcuador and CBI product experts, around 40 companies were provided with the highlights of these studies. Subjects discussed included product requirements and development trends, marketing requirements, legislative requirements, market trends, market channels and segments and promotion trends. Based on these highlights, the trainers discussed market entry and product development options. Through different group assignments, the companies reviewed their product portfolio and capacities [Read more]

Peruvian biodiversity products at in-Cosmetics

Aafke van Sprundel2016-11-01T16:28:14+00:00May 6th, 2013|Tags: Cosmetics, Natural Ingredients, Peru, Promperu|

ProFound guided four Peruvian natural ingredients companies and Promperu at In-Cosmetics in Paris. These companies produce a variety of ingredients based on local biodiversity, including vegetable oils, essential oils and extracts. The visit allowed companies to identify and meet interesting buyers/partners and learn about new trends in the cosmetics market. For Promperu, the visit offered an excellent opportunity to extend its network in Europe with sector support, market information and research institutions, as well as with potential buyers of Peruvian products. ProFound’s cosmetics ingredients consultant Robbie Hogervorst arranged meetings with European producers, traders, distributors and companies transforming raw ingredients into [Read more]

Launch of ASPIRE programme in Ethiopia

Aafke van Sprundel2016-11-01T16:28:14+00:00April 11th, 2013|Tags: ASPIRE, beekeeping sector, Ethiopia|

On March 28, the programme to develop Ethiopia’s beekeeping sector was launched officially. ProFound was not only in Ethiopia to witness the launch and discuss programme management with its partners, but also to deliver first results. A round table discussion initiated a Quality Assurance Scheme covering the entire value chain. Companies, government representatives, sector organisations, research institutes and consultants brainstormed on the Quality Assurance Scheme to prepare a list of actions, which will be followed up by the newly established Quality Assurance taskforce. ProFound also provided a three-day workshop to introduce representatives of diverse companies and sector organisations to market [Read more]

ProFound talks apples and oranges in Colombia

Aafke van Sprundel2016-11-01T16:28:14+00:00March 25th, 2013|Tags: CBI, Colombia, Proexport, tropical and exotic fruits|

In the first week of March, ProFound participated in Proexport’s seminar Condiciones de acceso para productos agroindustriales en la Unión Europea, which was conducted in 5 cities across Colombia - and broadcasted live to 15 additional cities. The seminar was organised in the framework of the Free Trade Agreement signed between Colombia and the European Union in 2012, and aimed to inform exporters of current and future opportunities for agro-industrial products in the EU market. ProFound’s presentation addressed the European market for tropical and exotic fruits from Colombia, highlighting the relevant characteristics, trends & developments, market channels and buyer requirements [Read more]

Market Intelligence Cashew Nuts for CBI & IDH

Aafke van Sprundel2013-01-03T15:11:25+00:00January 3rd, 2013|Tags: Cashew nuts, CBI, IDH|

By request of CBI, ProFound has made a detailed & tailored analysis of European markets for sustainably-produced cashew nuts. This analysis was done in the framework of a pilot programme of IDH, with the ambition that in the next few years 20% of the cashew nuts imported into the Europe will be sustainably produced! The global results of this study have been recently published on IDH's website.

Tailored Market Intelligence: CBI & Pro Ecuador

Aafke van Sprundel2016-11-01T16:28:14+00:00December 18th, 2012|Tags: CBI, chocolate, Ecuador, Pro Ecuador, quinoa|

ProFound has started up tailored studies for CBI and PROECUADOR, the Institute for the Promotion of Exports and Investments in Ecuador. ProFound will research export opportunities for two sectors:chocolate and quinoa; both appealing, but also challenging markets. For chocolate, it is difficult for developing country exporters to engage directly with EU retailers and consumers due to hurdles such as marketing and distribution costs. At the same time, quinoa sales in Europe remain limited, and are highly dominated by Peru and Bolivia. Therefore, ProFound will pay specific attention on how to position Ecuadorian exporters on these markets. These studies are conducted [Read more]

Sustainable Ingredients Programme Morocco

Aafke van Sprundel2016-11-01T16:28:14+00:00December 2nd, 2012|Tags: FairWild, Morocco, National Strategy for Sustainable Management and Development of MAPs, UNDP, wild-collection|

UNDP & FairWild establish a partnership for the implementation of a 3-year GEF-funded programme: "Morocco - Mainstreaming Biodiversity into Value Chains for Mediterranean Medicinal & Aromatic Plants". ProFound will coordinate FairWild's support & training in areas of resource assessment & management, market & value chain development, and certification procedures.