BRAZIL

“ Partnerships for a Better World ” Andersen clearly states : “ The integration of a productive chain , through the Partnerships for a Better World program is , without a doubt , the biggest differential at Centroflora .” The program was created in 2002 and its main guidelines are :

1 ) To promote the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity through partnerships that generate value to its stakeholders ;

2 ) To facilitate industrial-scale supplies of vegetable raw material with traceability and sustainability ;

3 ) To foster family agriculture , forestry stewardship , local development and ethical biocommerce .

Currently , there are more than 4,000 people involved in the culture , or harvest , processes of vegetable-origin raw material for Centroflora ; spread out in the south , southeast , north and northeast regions . The purchase of planned crops is guaranteed through the Partnership Contracts established between Centroflora and its clients and producers .

The focus for partnerships with medicinal plants ’ suppliers are rural communities , associations , cooperative societies and family farmers who are selected based on technical sustainability criteria . The species selected for cultivation go through botanical , agronomic and feasibility analyses ensuring the promotion of the desired species . The Partnership deal offers raw-material suppliers , not only technical support and technology transfers , but also training and strengthening of productive deals . All partners follow organic agriculture principles . “ The Partnerships deals are

– Peter Martin Andersen , President of Grupo Centroflora

www . centroflora . com . br 63