Givaudan Expands Clove Oil Production

29 Sep 2016 --- Givaudan have announced the launch of a new processing plant for clove leaf oil in Madagascar. NATEMA (Natural Extracts Madagascar) is a joint venture between Givaudan and Henri Fraise Fils et Cie, its longstanding partner and a well-established company in Madagascar.

“Givaudan is proud to inaugurate the NATEMA plant in Madagascar as part of our commitment to establish direct sourcing models in countries of origin that offer the best ingredients to our customers and create value in our partner communities,” said Gilles Andrier, Givaudan CEO. “NATEMA will enable us to establish and grow our capacity to develop and process natural ingredients sourced in Madagascar.”

Speaking with FoodIngredientsFirst Natascha Knoblich, Corporate Communications Manager at Givaudan said: “Madagascar’s rich biodiversity provides key natural raw materials to the fragrance and flavor industry, such as clove leaf oil and vanilla. Securing and processing ingredients close to their source is critical and contributes to Givaudan’s success by ensuring a constant supply in quality and quantity of clove leaf oil and its derivatives."

Ms Knoblich added: “Our collection network in Madagascar, complemented by NATEMA, will contribute to ensuring a constant supply in quality and quantity of clove leaf oil and its derivatives, necessary for our scent and taste creations. Ensuring the quality of our supply is done for example by providing technical agricultural advice to producers. Our customers will directly benefit from this secure supply.”

“Reducing our impact on the environment is a key driver of our sustainability commitments. In this regard the NATEMA plant processing is carried out with recovered rainwater, and distillation waste is recycled. NATEMA is currently exploring the installation of sustainable energy sources for the site such as solar panels and biomass boilers,” explained Ms Knoblich. 

The inauguration event was held on 27 September 2016 in Tamatave, Madagascar, in the presence of Hery Rajaonarimampianina, President of the Republic of Madagascar, and his government officials, regional and local politicians; Givaudan CEO Gilles Andrier; Ralph Fraise, a director with Henri Fraise Fils.

“We are pleased to achieve this key milestone in our partnership with Givaudan,” said Ralph Fraise, Henri Fraise Fils. “NATEMA, one of the largest clove leaf oil processing plants in the world, will contribute to the growing reputation of the country’s clove industry along with other high quality natural products from Madagascar’s rich biodiversity.”

Givaudan signed a joint venture agreement with Henri Fraise Fils in April 2014 for the design, construction and operation of the plant to transform clove leaf oil directly sourced by Givaudan’s own collection network into derivatives used for its fragrance and flavors creations. Other natural ingredients from Madagascar and neighbouring countries will follow. A ground-breaking ceremony for the NATEMA joint venture was held in September 2015. The eight-hectare plant will process hundreds of tonnes of clove leaf oil per year and initially provide direct employment for approximately 50 employees.

Since 2011, Givaudan has been collaborating with a local NGO in Madagascar on a Natural Resources Preservation Program, with the objective of contributing to the reduction of the environmental impact of the distillation of clove leaf oil, while also supporting the producers. The program involves 21 village associations which are organised groups of smallholder clove leaf oil producers. The village associations benefit from the installation of more efficient distillation units and plantation of firewood trees for distillation: for every kilogramme of clove leaf oil produced, producers taking part in the program plant one tree and are paid a premium.

In line with Givaudan’s sustainability commitments, the processing is carried out with recovered rainwater and distillation waste is recycled. NATEMA is currently exploring the installation of sustainable energy sources for the site such as solar panels and biomass boilers. Givaudan also supports a natural resources preservation program, working with local clove leaf oil producer associations to plant fast-growing trees in the distillation areas: 40,000 trees were planted in 2015.

The clove leaf oil collection network echoes the sourcing model that Givaudan has piloted with patchouli producers in Sulawesi, Indonesia. Backed by a strong local presence, Givaudan fosters close, dynamic relations with farmers, distillers and a network of producers who sell their product directly to Givaudan field buyers.

by Elizabeth Kenward