In the last five years, there has been a sharp rise in the demand for sustainable goods across the world, a growth that especially accelerated during the COVID-19 pandemic. The shift in consumer interest has created new market opportunities for cosmetics, pharmaceutical, fashion, and food companies in the green technology and sustainability market – a direction that decouples economic growth from environmental degradation.
Many forest-compatible and bioeconomy products, including açai, Brazil nut, passion fruit, pepper, and cacao, are found in the Amazon, a region that is home to more than 30 million people and accounts for 10% of the world’s known biodiversity. However, the rainforest is only responsible for less than 0.2% of the USD 175 billion global markets for sustainable products.
One reason for the rainforest’s low market share in the industry is that current sustainable value chains in the Amazon lack infrastructure, without which they cannot grow their operations to compete with large-scale commercial agriculture.
Agrosolidaria’s solution to promoting sustainable production
Born in the Colombian farmlands of Florencia-Caquetá, Agrosolidaria is a social enterprise that sells agricultural and cosmetic products made from sustainably cultivated Amazonia plants such as Sacha Inchi, Castaño, Copoazu, Araza, Açai, and Amazonian pineapple, among others. The enterprise consists of 12 associations representing more than 250 small farming families.
In 2018, the Colombian enterprise opened a plant to process raw materials collected by its farmers. Since then, it has been working to expand its sales of biodiverse products to both national and global markets to create better income opportunities for local underserved communities. To date, Agrosolidaria has been able to give its farmers a 30% income increase for their agricultural products.
Collaborating to strengthen sustainable supply chains in the rainforest
For 10 years, Agrosolidaria has worked to strengthen sustainable value chains in the region by building synergies with key ecosystem actors including USAID, IDB, and the Sinchi Institute. In 2021, NESsT supported the enterprise to join forces with Natura to produce Copoazu butter.
Natura & Co is the world’s largest B corp and the fourth-largest pure play beauty company. The Brazilian corporation supports ethically sourced products from local Amazonian economies.
Copoazú, also known as cupuazú or Amazonian white cocoa, is a large tropical fruit native to the Amazon basin with a white pulp rich in phosphorus, pectin, and vitamin C. Natura uses Copoazu supplied by Agrosolidaria to develop forest-compatible cosmetic products including moisturizers that improve dry, damaged skin and protect it against free radical damage.
Enhancing knowledge building for sustainable production
By incorporating impact-driven social enterprises into its supply chain, Natura is bringing sustainably sourced Amazonian products to wider international markets while promoting improving sustainable livelihoods in the region.
Together, Agrosolidaria and Natura are raising awareness of conscious sourcing and rainforest conservation. Their collaboration further inspires other producers and smallholder farmers to add their products to global sustainable value chains, strengthening the bioeconomy by replacing work that once relied on deforestation with businesses that protect and restore the Amazon rainforest.
“These are opportunities for the inhabitants of the Amazon to relate to the forest differently. It is here where science, innovation, and technology transfer come together as a successful work model.”
The partnership between Agrosolidaria and Natura sheds light on a new model for corporate responsibility and demonstrates how local and global corporations can play an active role in guaranteeing the quality of their supplies but also conserving the environment and supporting the communities of their suppliers.
“The partnership is sending a direct message to the world about how farmers and global and local companies can work together to protect the forest and its inhabitants, opening the doors for more companies to come and invest in the sustainable development of the region.”
Agrosolidaria and NESsT
Besides supporting Agrosolidaria to build partnerships, NESsT has been assisting the enterprise to expand into new markets, offering guidance from business advising to product development and marketing. Over the course of the pandemic, NESsT worked with Agrosolidaria to launch e-commerce sales channels, connecting its value-added products directly to consumers.
As for next steps, Agrosolidaria seeks to partner with more global cosmetic and food retailers, supermarket chains, and grocery stores so that it can make healthy, sustainably-sourced snacks available around the country and the world.
“It is through partnerships like this that global brands like Natura can amplify investments in the bioeconomy, increasing market awareness and demand and ultimately building the resilience of Amazonian communities.”