2 Apr 2010 --- The Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources of Ghana, the Swiss State Secretariat of Economic Affairs (SECO) and IUCN – the International Union for Conservation of Nature, have launched a project aimed at promoting sustainable production and trade of Allanblackia oil to facilitate increased market access, preserve biodiversity and improve livelihoods.

IUCN will present the Allanblackia project during the UEBT conference ‘The Beauty of Sourcing with Respect’ on 16 April, one day after the In-cosmetics trade fair. Chris Buss of IUCN noted: ‘In Ghana alone, there are about 4,000 Allanblackia collectors involved right now. If efforts to increase the Allanblackia supply are successful, up to 20,000 individuals in five different countries may be supplying Allanblackia oil by 2012. On the biodiversity front, each tree provides an ‘anchor’, helping to restore forest landscapes.’

Allanblackia oil is an edible oil, derived from the seeds of the African Allanblackia tree, which is used as a base for products ranging from margarine to soap. In April 2008, Unilever obtained EC Novel Food authorization for this oil, clearing the way for introduction in the EU market. The Union for Ethical BioTrade (UEBT) was invited to provide a verification system to help ensure that trade in Allanblackia oil is sustainable, contributing to local development and biodiversity conservation. UEBT will train local auditors who will verify the sourcing practices of the local companies that supply Allanblackia oil to Unilever.

The sustainable development of the Allanblackia supply chain is supported internationally by the Novella partnership that includes organizations such as Unilever, IUCN, TechnoServe and ICRAF. At country level, local NGOs and companies are also involved, including in the project implementation.