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Olam Agri, a global food, feed and fibre agri-business, has released its Specialty Grains & Seeds, Peru Sustainability Report 2021 that outlines its continued progress towards more sustainable quinoa and chia supply chains, which are delivering positive social and environmental impacts for local quinoa and chia farming communities in Peru.  

While nutrient-rich quinoa and chia seeds are seeing strong growth in demand as healthier eating and plant-based foods grow in popularity amongst consumers, smallholder farmers in Peru still struggle to realise the positive economic and social impact. Through on-the ground training and public-private collaboration, Olam Agri empowers those smallholder farmers to grow more efficiently and sustainably, and to get better access to the marketplace. This enables them to improve crop quality and yields, increase their incomes, and tackle key challenges such as improving soil fertility, preventing soil erosion, and controlling pests and diseases, while working towards a more traceable, transparent, responsible supply chain. Additionally, communities are benefitting from initiatives that are improving nutrition and well-being in these farming regions.

CIB was honoured and delighted to welcome The Rt. Hon. Lord Goldsmith, the UK Minister for Pacific & the Environment and Her Excellency Madame Rosalie Matondo, Minister of Forest Economy, Republic of Congo, to our operations in Pokola on 24th March to see first-hand how our sustainable forestry operations balance the needs of environment and wildlife with improving living conditions for people living in and around our concessions.

The delegation was impressed by the world class processing facilities for semi-finished and finished products, which is one of the most ecologically friendly operations in Africa, with a waste wood fired cogeneration unit – the only one of its kind in Republic of Congo - supplying free electricity to employees and offices and using spent steam for drying timber. 

CIB, together with its partner the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) hosted a roundtable to discuss various initiatives and projects on environment and biodiversity conservation. As one of the world’s largest contiguous FSC® certified tropical hardwood concessions, CIB elaborated on its commitment to sustainable and responsible forestry while developing the economy and conserving the forest for future generations.

According to The Rt. Hon. Lord Goldsmith,

“I came here as a follow up to COP26, where Congo Basin countries had a huge impact. I’m looking forward to building on the relationship that already exists between the UK and the Republic of Congo. We are very keen to do more, to be a stronger partner to the Republic of Congo and this visit has shone a light on how we might do that. It has been both inspiring and eye opening.” 
 

Speaking on the behalf of Olam Agri, Ashish Malik, Vice President wood products Africa and Europe said,

‘’We’re proud to host the delegation and to have the opportunity to discuss areas to further develop cooperation between the two countries. As a leader in sustainable and certified forestry operations, we’re excited to share our experience and explore how we, and other businesses, can continue to support environments and communities.”

Joining the meeting in Pokola, Emma Stokes, Director WCS for Central Africa said,

“The collaboration between the Government of Congo, the CIB and the WCS to improve biodiversity conservation in logging concessions surrounding protected areas is a pioneering approach that we hope can be scaled to other concessions in the country and Congo Basin as a whole.”

For 23 women from the village of Pokola, in Republic of Congo, this year's International Women's Day will be remembered as the beginning of an unprecedented journey. They committed themselves towards a livelihood they could never otherwise have imagined – and along the way, educating their husbands, families and future co-workers on equality and empowerment.

Launched on March 8, 2021, Project MaC - 'Menagere a Constructrice' or 'Home Maker to Home Builder' allowed women in the north of the Republic of Congo to develop skills for constructing wooden houses, enabling them to secure roles with Congolaise Industrielle des Bois. The success of this project paved the way to launch the second edition on August 8, 2021. It was a moment of rejoicing for CIB, seeing the 23 women from the first edition graduate and welcoming the new batch of 20 women for the second edition.

From 1968 until six months ago, forestry, wood and wood products operations were filled mainly by male workers at Congolaise Industrielle des Bois. This project, which had no fees or obligations at the end of training, strives towards a better balance in gender equality, challenges gender stereotypes and shifts mindsets. It opens up what is seen as a men-only domain by enabling women to learn wooden housing construction and crafting furniture.

CIB's community relations team members went door-to-door to houses, markets, schools, and social venues to tell the community about the project. The women of the first and the second edition crossed cultural barriers as they applied for the training, passed written tests, medical tests, and interviews before being accepted on the project. This was possible thanks to an exceptional collaboration within CIB's departments like Communications, Human Resources, Medical Team at the Clinic, CRS and IT.

On June 8, 2021, these homemakers from the first edition finished their training and began a new chapter of their lives of becoming home builders. With 100% attendance and zero mid-project abandonments, each woman worked hard towards acquiring the skills required for the job and was assigned to specific projects for CIB. As a result, the Republic of Congo will see new homes built by enthusiastic and empowered women.

This project is not a one-off intention for CIB. Project MaC embodies multiple elements of the United Nations' 2030 Sustainable Development Goals, including furthering gender equality, productive employment for all, and ending poverty. It is part of a vital commitment towards economic empowerment, gender equality and creating more inclusive societies. Hence, these 23 women are further trained in other departments of CIB. We want to prove that many technical professions can be accessible to women, not only woodworking. By the end of 2021, they become one of the elite workers of CIB, as wood experts, quality checkers and know the industry inside out.

Read about the first edition of Project Home Maker to Home Builder Here.

“The second edition is a product of the resounding success of the first. The biggest breakthrough in this latest enrolment is partners coming forward and participating. It is indeed a watershed moment for both CIB and partnerships”, says Ajita Chowhan, who conceived and launched the project earlier this year.

Project MaC is indeed a global project now as this edition also has women coming from all corners of Congo and from our partners like The Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) and Congo Conservation Company.