International Day of Forests 2025
Celebrating precious natural resources
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International Day of Forests, initiated by the UN, is a chance not just to celebrate these precious natural resources, but to reaffirm the urgency of action to protect and preserve them.
In 2025, the event focuses on the role of forests as crucial ecosystems for food security. Forest and non-timber forest products are sources of food, medicine and livelihoods for billions of people.
Katemfe supply chain
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Katemfe supply chain
Through our work focused on responsible sourcing, biodiversity and ecosystems preservation and restoration, as well as our work on climate change, we are committed to continuing to help protect and preserve forests in the communities where we source and operate. One example of our work is in the Katemfe supply chain in Western Africa.
Thaumatin, is a rare, extremely sweet ingredient which is part of the fruit from the katemfe plant, processed by Givaudan into Talin®, a clean label for reduced-sugar products.
Katemfe fruits are non-timber forest products, sourced from the wild by a network of collectors in Côte d’Ivoire. Givaudan works with a network of around 35 permanent employees and around 400 temporary women workers associated with our ITRAD operations, alongside the collectors and community stakeholders (who make up over 2,000 families), to source katemfe, providing income for families while promoting sustainable practices.
We have been developing and supporting the Ivorian Katemfe supply chain for many years, building product traceability, training collectors on sustainable harvesting and post-harvest practices, and now striving to certify the supply chain under the FairWild standard as a gauge of biodiversity conservation and livelihoods upbringing.
The first steps, a gap analysis and mapping risks, got under way in 2024. In 2025 we will follow up with activities to improve practices.
We expect to have the certification complete by the end of 2025. We are providing support to producer communities with human rights and child labour risk training and educational projects. So far, over 600 individuals have been trained on human rights.
Supporting local communities
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Supporting local communities
In addition, the Givaudan Foundation has supported the local communities with the improvement of sanitation facilities at a school in Agboville, a katemfe-producing village through essential infrastructure upgrades. Launched in 2023, the project focuses on building better sanitation facilities to ensure that students have access to clean, safe learning environments. The aim is to reduce health risks related to inadequate sanitation, such as waterborne diseases, and to promote general good hygiene practices among students.
In 2024, a new latrine block with handwashing facilities was constructed, alongside the rehabilitation of three classrooms, benefiting 120 in Agboville, including a new roof, fresh exterior paint, new tables and various furnishings. In 2025, hygiene training for both teachers and students will commence.
We estimate that, in addition to the 435 community members employed through our collection network, the combined projects in this supply chain have had a positive impact on around 2,000 families across several communities.
Learn more about our work in our 2024 Integrated Report on economic and ESG performance.