Natural Products Expo Europe Offers Global Perspective

On June 6-8, suppliers, buyers and manufacturers from around the world attended Natural Products Expo Europe in Amsterdam, the first natural products expo designed for a global audience. The event, organized by New Hope International Media Ltd., highlighted both the organic product and food supplement industries. As the center of the herbal products industry, Europe affords a cutting-edge perspective on trends, legislation, research, and practices vital to industry members. Natural Products Expo Europe featured more than 270 exhibitors, as well as a top-level European conference covering topics such as organics, the major international markets, and European regulations.

A-SNAPP partner Rob McCaleb of the Herb Research Foundation traveled to Amsterdam to raise awareness about the A-SNAPP project and plant conservation issues. McCaleb hopes to lessen the collection pressures on wild herb populations by promoting the sustainable cultivation of botanical products from Africa for the worldwide botanicals market. Information about sustainably produced herbs is much needed in Europe where 130 species of plants valued for their medicinal and cosmetic uses are now endangered. During Expo, McCaleb met with Rick Prill, President of New Hope Natural Media, to discuss HRF and New Hope’s strategic alliance to promote business linkages between African producers and international buyers. The two organizations hope to create a series of supplier-buyer expos for natural products worldwide.

Expo Europe was well-attended by members of the organic industry, giving McCaleb an opportunity to meet with organic certifiers about international certification standards and the challenges of certifying smallholder organic farmers who are the main producers of herbs in African nations. European organic certifiers in attendance at the Expo included Ecocert International; SGS Agro Control Inspection and Certification; Skal; and the Soil Association Certification Ltd. McCaleb also met with representatives from the International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements (the worldwide umbrella organization of the organic agriculture movement), as well as the Organic Trade Association (OTA) which represents the organic industry in North America and is an active participant in creating a global system of organic agricultural production and verification. - Krista Morien, Herb Research Foundation

The Herb Research Foundation is pleased to present the second issue of A-SNAPP Update, a weekly online newsletter for African growers and producers, A-SNAPP partners, international buyers, and others interested in the A-SNAPP project. We need your input to make A-SNAPP Update a success! In particular, we are seeking stories on individual African farms and businesses, traditional African medicine, protection of endangered African plants, and other issues important to you and your business. If you would like to be profiled as a featured business in A-SNAPP Update or have an idea for a story, please contact Krista Morien at kmorien@herbs.org.