Closer to the source: Treatt backs a more sustainable future for raw materials
As a natural extracts and ingredients manufacturer, we are fully aware of the impact climate change has on the sustainability of the raw materials we process.
And as part of our sustainability strategy, we're proud to be a founding partner of
SAI Platform’s Regenerative Agriculture Programme, helping to drive positive change for a sustainable, thriving and more resilient agriculture sector.
We had a chat with Katie Severn, Global Sustainability Manager to tell us more.
What is SAI Platform?
It’s a fantastic organisation, a non-profit network of over 170 members who are united in the shared goal of solving global agricultural challenges to grow a sustainable, healthy and resilient sector while creating strong and secure supply chains.
Treatt became a member of SAI Platform back in 2021 and we’ve been working with the organisation and its members on a few exciting projects – one of which is the Regenerative Agriculture Programme.
What is SAI Platform’s Regenerative Agriculture Programme?
Together with farmers, industry experts and the world’s largest food and agriculture brands, SAI Platform is leading and supporting a global transition towards regenerative agriculture.
Regenerative agriculture has the potential to improve farmer livelihoods, adapt to climate change, enhance resilient eco-systems, and enable companies to achieve environmental, social, and corporate governance goals.
SAI Platform’s Regenerative Agriculture Programme aims to build the regenerative capacity of agriculture through a global, farmer-centred, industry-led initiative. Essentially, it aims to be the trusted, and cost-effective way to assess, measure and report regenerative agriculture outcomes on farms worldwide.
Why did Treatt become a founder in the Regenerative Agriculture Programme?
We work with suppliers of raw materials across the globe – from farmers growing cucumbers in Florida to lemons in Argentina and tea in China. The best way we can make a difference to improving sustainable growing practices is to put our efforts into supporting initiatives like the SAI Platform Regenerative Agriculture Programme.
As a business, we want the raw materials we source to be grown in a way which is planet and people friendly – and so do our customers. Through this programme, we can influence in a positive way - literally on the ground - at grass roots, together with farmers.
Wherever it is implemented, the programme guides, measures and enables essential regenerative agriculture outcomes that can help farmers overcome the challenges they face to implement and scale solutions. The programme will also be benchmarked externally to existing programmes/standards/schemes, so it will deliver valuable and credible reporting and benchmarking.
We also really liked that it’s all about engaging with farmers to find attainable solutions – there is a lot of flexibility within the programme for it to be a true partnership with farmers, using their knowledge of the land for a successful outcome.
What’s next for SAI Platform’s Regenerative Agriculture Programme?
Starting in 2023 the programme and framework will continue to evolve, as a tool prototype and implementation guidance will be tested in different sectors and geographies, and as new scientific findings emerge.
These will be validated based on feedback from farmers, users, farm advisors and the Regenerative Agriculture Programme’s founding members.
The piloting phase will begin with the aim of identifying possible gaps within the framework and tool prototype, how these can be rectified and how regenerative agriculture can be best assessed at the farm and supply shed level.
Find out more about SAI Platform Regenerative Agriculture Programme.
We are on a mission
To learn more about how we’re working hard to create extracts and ingredients people love, in a way that protects people, and our planet, visit the sustainability section of our website.
TREATT | How we’re creating a responsible and sustainable supply chain