Exporters of organic + fair fresh and dried fruits from Uganda

1. Exporters of organic + fair fresh and dried fruits from Uganda

2. About BioUganda • BioUgandais Local Private Limited company. • Was established in 2003. • located at plot 165, Nganjo Entebbe Airport road. • It specializes in exporting fresh and dried organic products to Europe and the USA. • Workswith small holder rural contracted farmers for whom it holds the organic certificates, which is awarded by Naturland/IMO on the basis of small-holder group certification and an operational Internal Control System. • Additional organic certificates include, Biosuisse, NOP • It also holds Naturland fair trade cetificate awarded by Naturland

3. Company development • The company started with 50 farmers based in Masaka District . • Received first organic certification in 2004 • Started organic fresh fruits exports to Germany. • It later expanded to other three districts including Mubende , Masaka , and Luwero districts. • We are currently working with 250 farmers of which 120 farmers are certified organic by IMO to EU, NOP.\/Naturlandand BioSuisse Standards. • In 2006, we widened the product range to include organic dried fruits.

4. BioUganda Organic fresh Products • The products include various fruits namely: avocado, papaya, Jack fruit, apple bananas, pineapple cayenne, pineapple victoria, passion fruit and mango.

5. BioUganda organic dried fruits The dried fruits include Dried fruits Consumer packs • Dried Pineapples • Dried Apple Bananas • Dried Jack fruit • Dried Papaya • Dried Mango

6. Project Certification • Definition: • A project is a number of producers organised by one certified operator (that holds the certificate) that buys all the (relevant) organic products • BioUganda works with small holder rural contracted farmers for whom it holds the organic and fair trade certificates, which is awarded by Naturland/IMO following EU, NOP, Naturland and BioSuisse standards on the basis of small-holder group certification and an operational Internal Control System headed by a Project Manager

7. Annual external inspections and certification by IMO Since 2002, IMO Inspector Trading Partners include 1. DWP eG in Germany buys Naturland + Naturland fair certified dried fruits/ 2. Morga in Switzerland Buys Biosuisse certified dried Apple Bananas 3. EWH Pirsch in Austria for dried and fresh organic fruits 4. ProNatura Provence in France for fresh organic fruits 5. Mavuno LLC, in USA For NOP certified dried fruits 6. EgeSun GmbH Germany, buys dried Organic pineapples 7. Libero Mondo from Itary

8. BioUganda Organic Cetification and Export • Received first organic certificate in 2002 with a group of 40 farmers in Masaka • Started fresh organic fruit exports in January 2002 to Germany • Became Naturland organic certified and Naturland member in 2007 • Acquired and installed first hybrid indoor solar fruits dryer in 2007 • Started drying and export of dried organic fruits to DWP in 2008 • Received Naturland fair certificate in 2013 • Exports Naturland fair certified dried fruits to DWP

9. Control of certification • Project operator controls the certification (holds the license) • Producers/farmers can’t sell their products to other buyers as certified products • (Organic) Internal Control System (ICS) Definition • A documented system that guards the integrity of the organic production and the organic products within the project Also called Internal Quality Assurance System

10. Organic farmer in Luweroproduce Cayenne pineapples and mangoes

11. Definition of grower groups • The production by the various farmers is similar in size, crops and techniques. • The size of each operation is "family farm” • The size of the group is sufficient to support a viable internal control system • The marketing is co-ordinated • The production sites are situated in the same area.

12. Potential Project Area • Growing crop already? Farmers experienced with crop What is the local market for the crop What is the local market prices • Look at off season prices (peanuts) • Get a history over several years of the price • What is chemical usage in area • What land do farmers have available, to increase production

13. Steps to organic certification • Establish field organisation( Project Staff) to implement the ICS • Mobilise, Register , train and contract farmers • Registration and Contracting: Start slowly • Do not register more farmers than you can expect to buy from • Its better to go slowly and ensure that all the farmers understand what is expected of them • Staff know what is expected of them

14. Small scale farmer development • BioUganda mobilizes, registers and contracts farmers following procedures laid down in BioUganda internal control system. • It offer extension services to farmers and training in organic farming practices. They include but not limited to • Principles of organic agriculture (OA) • Soil fertility management/nutrient balancing in OA • Hands-on crop management and crop agronomy • Pest control in OA (useful cultural practices, natural pesticides, scouting) • Weed management • Hands-on post harvest handling • OA Market quality requirements • Farm records keeping

15. The Farmer trainings include information about the Naturland Fair Standards and certification BioUganda implements the Naturland Fair trade standards under three main categories; • social responsibility in production and processing, at the level of workers and associated individual farmers (from the approved farmers list) supplying the company • Supporting good trading relationships with supplying farmers and buyers ensuring that concerns of these stakeholders are taken care of, • Transparent sharing of economic benefits from fair trade for the workers and farmers.

16. Monitoring • Make frequent visits to the project areas • Meet staff • Meet farmers • Meet local leaders • Quality training for producers/farmers • It develops confidence of the farmers • Ensures transparency • The project will need close supervision at first • That means regular monitoring visits • Get to the field • Check accounts • Check stores • Check packaging • The fact that you come regularly, have contacts with the staff, and the farmers will reduce the chances of things going wrong. • A group project is a big investment do not leave it to chance

17. Why Organic Certification? • The system is there not to help the farmer • The system is not there to help the exporter • The system is a means to guarantee to the customer that the product on the shelf in the shop is really organic • The system is there for the customer

18. The company maintains high standards of food and organic quality through Trained personnel processing and handling of food • Processing workers are trained in • Personal Hygiene and sanitation at all levels of handling food • Quality management and control • Market requirements • Technical knowhow in fruit drying

19. The Social responsibility to workers at BioUganda include 1.Human rights 2.No forced labour 3.Freedom of association, 4 Equal treatment and opportunities 5.No child labour 6.Health and safety 7. Employment conditions

20. The Social responsibility to farmers of BioUganda include • To support small scale farmers with long term contracts and trainings • Fair producer prices • Supporting organization of individual producers into groups • Farmer support, communication and follow up visits • Quality assurance with farmers • Planning about quantities to be bought Social involvement To give knowledge about environmental protection, balanced diets and other useful topics.

21. Sustainable and renewable energies to dry fruits • A system of photovoltaic panels and solar heat collectors was constructed on the roof of our factory • BioUgandais endeavoring to ensure fulfillment of the required quality and quantity through investing in appropriate technologies to dry fruits using renewable energies. • Solar dryers with supplementary heating with biogas at night to complete drying cycles • Solar batteries for electricity to run motor fans.

22. Is this possible for small holders • Cost of certification higher than total gross production of small holder • Small farmers lack ability to document activities at farm • Not possible for small farmers to communicate directly with certification body • Difficult for small farmers to understand official standards

23. Group Certification • Group Certification developed for a “group of small farmers • Either working together or organised by exporter • Farmers based in the same area, growing the same crops • Central marketing of organic crops • BioUganda is committed to working closely with its outgrowers formed into groups so that together they can supply a consistent product to the market. • BioUganda is keen that the out growers form themselves into groups. BioUganda believes that such groups will ease communication, help insure production quality and quantity, and be a channel of support between himself, as the exporter, and the wider community

24. The ICS • Internal Control System • The ICS is a living document changing to meet the different requirements of both the importer and the farm situation • By having an ICS the project takes responsibility for the produce being organic • Project role is to monitor farmers and make internal inspections, monitor processing and ensure separation of organic products • The role of the certification body • Ensure that the design of the ICS ensures that the produce will be organic • The Certification body ensures that the ICS is implemented • Reduces the costs of certification for small holders, not necessary to have external inspectors visiting every farmer

25. Functions of the ICS • Documents to the project staff what procedures they will follow to ensure that the project exports organic produce • Demonstrates to the certifier how the project will ensure that the products are organic • Shows the competent authority that the products entering the EU, US, Switzerland etc have been produced in an organic standard

26. BioUganda ICS • We will look at the standards • Government Organic • EU Standards • NOP (USA) To enter a country the product must meet Government standards • Private Label Organic • Naturland ( Germany) • BioSuisse (Switzerland) Fair Trade • Naturland fair • The Standard has many sections • Social Development • Economic Development • Environmental Development • Trade Standards • Make a revision on the ICS

27. Why Organic Certification? • The system is a means to guarantee to the customer that the products on the shelf in the shop is really organic • The system is there for the customer. With the valid certificates the importers can now identify the certified products as described in organic and Fair Trade Standards and place them on the market . It helps to improve market access to the company giving an opportunity to the participating farmers to sell their fruits to a more lucrative organic and fair trade market in the EU/USA, that give a better price than the local conventional market price, Importers have a long term commitment to regularly buy the fruit and pay premium price to the farmers. A contract between the company and its importers is the best way to pursue a long term relationship. A contract make safer this relationship for both.

28. Certification labels • EU Bio (Reg. 834/2007 & 889/2008) • Naturland Fair • BioSuisse • NOP • products are labeled according to achieved certification. • has opened up markets to BioUganda in the EU countries, Switzerland and USA

29. Trade Relationship with Buyers • BioUganda has possibility of having longer trading relationships with dwpRavensburg in Germany and other importers . • Joint planning of quantities required each year • Overall quality improvement is discussed

30. Technical and financial support to BioUganda • From BTC and other supporting partners Eligibility of applicants: who may apply should provide evidence for the link of the organisation with Fair Trade/ Sustainable Trade/ Organic BioUganda easely obtain trade finance from Shared interest UK, Oko credit Germany, Tridos Netherlands, this is arranged through its importing partners Directly, SIDI from France in form of sustainable loan

31. Promotion and meeting Old + new buyers at Biofach since 2004 • BioUganda has been participating at the Worlds biggest organic trade fair, BioFach in Nuremberg Germany • To promote the organic trade • To establish personal contacts • Negotiations for fair trade prices even higher, that will also translate in better pay to the producers • All only possible with valid certificates

32. Naturland Fair • Fair prices for our farmers allowing them to earn an adequate profit • Long-lasting and reliable trade relations based on reciprocal respect, transparency and dialogue • Social responsibility – fair wages to workers • Social commitment – creating new jobs, enhancing projects for the safeguard of the environment and culture

33. Thank you for your kind attentionFor further information www.biouganda.com