Fairtrasa unveils a breakthrough in sustainable agriculture at this year's Fruit Attraction. The company introduces bananas from the world’s first Regenerative Organic Certified® banana farm in Ecuador. The Regenerative Organic Certification serves as the highest standard of both environmental and social sustainability and represents a crucial step forward in banana cultivation.
Back in 2005, Fairtrasa was the first company to offer Fairtrade avocados to the world. This is a moment that is no less important. The Regenerative Organic certification is unique in that in order to apply for it, one has to already be certified as organic as well as Fairtrade. It builds upon the established standards of sustainability -- so that it can focus on exceeding them.
To achieve Regenerative Organic Certified status, most farms must put in years of hard work. They have to avoid all industrial inputs, typically creating their own compost and using smart intercropping techniques where plants fix nutrients for each other and protect the soil by creating ground cover. The farms then have to conduct a series of thorough tests periodically, proving that their soil is healthy, rich in organic matter and continuously improving.
Regenerative organic agriculture is a powerful solution to combat climate change and ensure food security for coming generations. It can increase yields, while making plants healthier and more resistant to extreme weather at a time when never before seen storms as well as droughts devastate harvests with increasing frequency. The world economy emits roughly 37 gigatons of CO2 each year and it is estimated that if regenerative agriculture was implemented widely, it would capture up to 13 gigatons of that carbon back into the ground, where it would enrich soil life, stop erosion, and heighten fertility.
Fairtrasa found the perfect partner for this journey in Ecuador. LatBio, a supply-side partner and co-creator for several years, is a certified B-Corporation committed to reviving ancestral farming practices combined with the cutting edge of ecological science. Just like at Fairtrasa, they manage several social programs all aimed at helping small-scale farming communities thrive. By finding the right farmers who were willing to take the risk of doing something new and supporting them for years, they turned the world's first 100% Regenerative Organic Certified bananas into a reality.
"Whatever we do, we are doing it with an eye toward helping everyone become part of the solution — farmers, clients, and consumers. The Regenerative Organic Certification is one of the best tools to verify that we are reviving the environment, doing right by farmers, and bringing healthy products from healthy soils to consumers and clients," states Franklin Ginus, Co-CEO, Fairtrasa Holland B.V.
For more information:
Álvaro de Mingo
Fairtrasa
Email: [email protected]
www.fairtrasa.com