Pilot certification tool: Sustainably sourcing Pine Nuts in Northern Pakistan

2017-12-19T14:24:51+00:00August 29th, 2016|Tags: , , , , , , , |

During a recent CBI mission in July to Pakistan, Bert-Jan Ottens and Michael Schwegler (our in2ni colleague) prepared the grounds for an innovative pilot scheme, aiming at the sustainable sourcing and certification of wild-collected Chilgoza (pine) nuts from the Northern areas of Pakistan. They took stock of current collection and processing practices of Community Biodiversity Enterprises (CBEs) in the Gouherabad valley, who are collecting Chilgoza pine nuts from their communal forests. The pilot introduces a ground-breaking certification solution that aims to assess and certify supply chains in the natural ingredient sector according to multiple voluntary sustainable standards. This certification tool [Read more]

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Market Orientation Training at Vitafoods

2016-11-01T16:28:02+00:00May 30th, 2016|Tags: , , , |

ProFound consultants Bert-Jan Ottens and Jesse Bloemendaal visited Vitafoods 2016 to give a Market Orientation Training to Pakistani and South African producers of natural ingredients. In classroom trainings, the companies drafted their market entry strategy. They learned to make an analysis of their strengths and weaknesses. The companies also received training on obtaining market information so they can identify opportunities and threats on the European market. ProFound also showed the participants how natural ingredients are used and sold on the European market by visiting retail outlets. In the last days of the training, participants visited the trade fair Vitafoods to validate their market entry strategies. At the fair, they met with potential [Read more]

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Supporting Pakistani companies at Biofach 2016

2016-11-01T16:28:02+00:00February 18th, 2016|Tags: , , |

ProFound assisted three Pakistani companies that have organic certified products at the CBI stand on Biofach 2016. The companies presented a wide offer of natural food products and ingredients, ranging from dried fruits to liquorice. The first results of the trade show look very promising: one company was able to materialise an offer and the total potential orders well exceeded our initial expectations. The exhibiting companies are taking part in the CBI Export Coaching Programme for the natural ingredients sector in Pakistan. This programme builds the capacities of SMEs in Pakistan by providing tailored assistance and trade fair support. We [Read more]

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Promoting sustainable sourcing in Pakistan

2016-11-01T16:28:03+00:00December 22nd, 2015|Tags: , , |

Northern Pakistan has a rich biodiversity which is threatened due to poverty and limited options for sustainable livelihoods. ProFound joined up with the UNDP-GE Mountains and Markets project, which aims to improve the livelihoods of local communities, by providing sustainable solutions to use the rich biodiversity. In early November, ProFound trainers visited Northern Pakistan together with the Dutch government agency CBI (promoting imports from developing countries) and the Mountains and Markets project. To promote good collection and processing practices as well as sustainable sourcing from these mountain areas, the team visited local cultivation and wild collection areas as well as local processors [Read more]

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CBI’s Natural Ingredients programme in Afghanistan and Pakistan

2016-11-01T16:28:08+00:00November 15th, 2014|Tags: , , , , |

Together with its consortium partner Klaus Dürbeck Consulting (KDC), ProFound has won the tender for the CBI Export Development and Promotion Programmes for Natural Ingredients in Afghanistan and Pakistan. Covering a period of 4 years, the programmes aim to improve the export competitiveness of SMEs in developing countries, through tailored interventions at company and institutional level. The programmes affect the full value chain of the natural ingredients sector. To optimally improve export promotion, CBI integrates different services in the framework of its programmes. The integrated programmes are focused on the key actors, influencers and supporters of the export value chain. Services [Read more]

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