Informa Markets has announced a new partnership with international civil society organisation Solidaridad as part of the company’s ongoing commitment to sustainability.
Set to launch at Vitafoods Europe 2023 at the Palexpo Convention Centre (9-11 May) and online (1-12 May), the partnership aims to raise awareness of Solidaridad’s work in creating sustainable supply chains globally, facilitate knowledge-sharing and collaboration across the nutrition and food markets, and ultimately help brands source ingredients ethically and sustainably while meeting calls for enhanced supply chain transparency.
As part of the new partnership, Solidaridad will host a presentation and exhibit at Vitafoods Europe 2023’s inaugural Sustainability Resource Centre, as well as at Food Ingredients Europe 2023 in Frankfurt (28-30 November).
A platform for education
Founded in 1969, Solidaridad aims to promote international cooperation across the value chain in over 40 countries, with a focus on supporting small-scale and family farmers and their communities, as well as workers on farms, in mines, and throughout supply chains.
Notably, in 1988 the company founded the Max Havelaar Foundation, launching the first fair trade label for sustainable coffee and helping spark the global fair trade movement.
By partnering with Solidaridad, we’re working together to empower the global nutraceutical community to do what’s best for both people and the planet, from farm to shelf and beyond
- Heather Granato, VP of Partnerships & Sustainability, Food EMEA at Informa Markets
This new partnership between the two companies will create an arena across Informa Markets’ events and digital platforms for Solidaridad to share its expertise, educate the food and nutrition sectors in addressing the critical issues of human rights in ingredients sourcing, sustainability considerations in the supply chain, and share real examples of success stories in the field.
New business models for high-value botanicals
With smallholder farmers’ livelihoods increasingly affected by factors such as climate change, biodiversity loss, deforestation and volatile market prices, it is imperative for ingredient buyers to act in order to balance market demands with sustainability needs. To mark the launch of the collaboration with Informa Markets, Monique van der Vijve, Innovation Manager/Health at Solidaridad, will join a host of experts for a panel discussion exploring ‘new business models for high-value botanicals’.
Taking place at the Sustainability Resource Centre on Tuesday 9 May, 11:00-11:45am (CEST), the session will explore how supporting female entrepreneurship can be a powerful strategy to unlock more sustainable supply chains for sourcing botanicals.
The go-to destination for sustainability expertise
Dedicated to driving sustainable change in the nutrition industry, the new interactive Sustainability Resource Centre at Vitafoods Europe 2023 has been designed to connect sustainability-minded professionals to share insights and innovations and further knowledge of industry challenges to drive transformational change.
In addition to hearing from Solidaridad, visitors can access a range of educational content from other industry experts addressing issues of inclusivity and diversity, regulatory compliance, supply chain traceability, carbon offsetting and more.
Featuring a dedicated theatre and a packed two-day programme, the launch of the Sustainability Resource Centre offers a unique opportunity for nutraceutical professionals to come together to find inspiration and collaborate to propel the industry forward.
Collaborating for sustainable innovation
“Sustainability is at the heart of Vitafoods Europe 2023. By introducing the new Sustainability Resource Centre, we are aiming to create a unique experience to inspire, foster valuable connections and provide a launchpad from which the global nutraceutical community can drive sustainable change in the industry," said Heather Granato, VP of Partnerships & Sustainability, Food EMEA at Informa Markets.
"We can’t understate the value of sharing expertise from organisations like Solidaridad on these critical issues in this mission," Granato added. "By partnering with Solidaridad, we’re working together to empower the global nutraceutical community to do what’s best for both people and the planet, from farm to shelf and beyond."
“International collaboration across the value chain is the driving factor of sustainable change,” added Heske Verburg, Managing Director of Solidaridad Europe. “By sharing our vision at Vitafoods Europe and beyond, telling the stories of the people at the heart of our supply chains, and highlighting how we can work together, we can create an economy that works for both business players and smallholder farmer communities globally. We’re excited to partner with Informa Markets – a company that values collaboration and innovation as much as we do – to find solutions that enable farmers and workers to earn a living income and shape their own future, allow businesses to produce in balance with nature, and ultimately make sustainable supply chains the standard, everywhere.”