* . *
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Privacy & Policy
  • Contact
Friday, August 29, 2025
Earth-News
  • Home
  • Business
  • Entertainment
    ‘Big Brother’s’ Rylie Jeffries Finally Speaks Out on Katherine Woodman Controversy – El Paso Inc.

    Big Brother’s Rylie Jeffries Finally Speaks Out on Katherine Woodman Controversy

    ‘SNL’ Parts Ways With Emil Wakim Amid Rumored Season 51 Cast Shakeup – yahoo.com

    SNL Shakes Up Season 51 Cast with Emil Wakim’s Surprising Exit

    Do you have a favorable or an unfavorable opinion of Taylor Swift? – YouGov

    Do You Love Taylor Swift or Not? Share Your Thoughts!

    Upload Season 4 Review – yahoo.com

    Upload Season 4 Review: A Thrilling New Chapter Unveiled

    ‘The Roses’ review: Olivia Colman, Benedict Cumberbatch sparkle in dark comedy – Yakima Herald-Republic

    The Roses’ Review: Olivia Colman and Benedict Cumberbatch Shine in Dark Comedy Delight

    ‘When Calls the Heart’ Fans All Want the Same Thing After Seeing the Show’s Latest Update – yahoo.com

    When Calls the Heart’ Fans Rally Together in Excitement Over Exciting New Update!

  • General
  • Health
  • News

    Cracking the Code: Why China’s Economic Challenges Aren’t Shaking Markets, Unlike America’s” – Bloomberg

    Trump’s Narrow Window to Spread the Truth About Harris

    Trump’s Narrow Window to Spread the Truth About Harris

    Israel-Gaza war live updates: Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh assassinated in Iran, group says

    Israel-Gaza war live updates: Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh assassinated in Iran, group says

    PAP Boss to Niger Delta Youths, Stay Away from the Protest

    PAP Boss to Niger Delta Youths, Stay Away from the Protest

    Court Restricts Protests In Lagos To Freedom, Peace Park

    Court Restricts Protests In Lagos To Freedom, Peace Park

    Fans React to Jazz Jennings’ Inspiring Weight Loss Journey

    Fans React to Jazz Jennings’ Inspiring Weight Loss Journey

    Trending Tags

    • Trump Inauguration
    • United Stated
    • White House
    • Market Stories
    • Election Results
  • Science
  • Sports
  • Technology
    Japan’s legacy LCD and chip technology find new home in India – Nikkei Asia

    How Japan’s Breakthrough LCD and Chip Technologies Are Driving Innovation in India

    ITSWC 2025: Thursday sessions guide – Traffic Technology Today

    Your Ultimate Guide to Thursday Sessions at ITSWC 2025

    MC Machinery Technology Summit Showcases Manufacturing Innovations – Modern Machine Shop

    MC Machinery Technology Summit Unveils Cutting-Edge Manufacturing Innovations

    US-ROK Technology Cooperation Faces Rising Tensions – The National Interest

    Rising Tensions Put US-South Korea Technology Partnership to the Test

    The Role of AI and Technology in Shaping the Future of Interactive Entertainment – Technology Org

    How AI and Technology Are Transforming the Future of Interactive Entertainment

    Ten upcoming sports stadiums where technology takes to the field – Dezeen

    10 Futuristic Sports Stadiums Revolutionizing the Game with Cutting-Edge Technology

    Trending Tags

    • Nintendo Switch
    • CES 2017
    • Playstation 4 Pro
    • Mark Zuckerberg
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Business
  • Entertainment
    ‘Big Brother’s’ Rylie Jeffries Finally Speaks Out on Katherine Woodman Controversy – El Paso Inc.

    Big Brother’s Rylie Jeffries Finally Speaks Out on Katherine Woodman Controversy

    ‘SNL’ Parts Ways With Emil Wakim Amid Rumored Season 51 Cast Shakeup – yahoo.com

    SNL Shakes Up Season 51 Cast with Emil Wakim’s Surprising Exit

    Do you have a favorable or an unfavorable opinion of Taylor Swift? – YouGov

    Do You Love Taylor Swift or Not? Share Your Thoughts!

    Upload Season 4 Review – yahoo.com

    Upload Season 4 Review: A Thrilling New Chapter Unveiled

    ‘The Roses’ review: Olivia Colman, Benedict Cumberbatch sparkle in dark comedy – Yakima Herald-Republic

    The Roses’ Review: Olivia Colman and Benedict Cumberbatch Shine in Dark Comedy Delight

    ‘When Calls the Heart’ Fans All Want the Same Thing After Seeing the Show’s Latest Update – yahoo.com

    When Calls the Heart’ Fans Rally Together in Excitement Over Exciting New Update!

  • General
  • Health
  • News

    Cracking the Code: Why China’s Economic Challenges Aren’t Shaking Markets, Unlike America’s” – Bloomberg

    Trump’s Narrow Window to Spread the Truth About Harris

    Trump’s Narrow Window to Spread the Truth About Harris

    Israel-Gaza war live updates: Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh assassinated in Iran, group says

    Israel-Gaza war live updates: Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh assassinated in Iran, group says

    PAP Boss to Niger Delta Youths, Stay Away from the Protest

    PAP Boss to Niger Delta Youths, Stay Away from the Protest

    Court Restricts Protests In Lagos To Freedom, Peace Park

    Court Restricts Protests In Lagos To Freedom, Peace Park

    Fans React to Jazz Jennings’ Inspiring Weight Loss Journey

    Fans React to Jazz Jennings’ Inspiring Weight Loss Journey

    Trending Tags

    • Trump Inauguration
    • United Stated
    • White House
    • Market Stories
    • Election Results
  • Science
  • Sports
  • Technology
    Japan’s legacy LCD and chip technology find new home in India – Nikkei Asia

    How Japan’s Breakthrough LCD and Chip Technologies Are Driving Innovation in India

    ITSWC 2025: Thursday sessions guide – Traffic Technology Today

    Your Ultimate Guide to Thursday Sessions at ITSWC 2025

    MC Machinery Technology Summit Showcases Manufacturing Innovations – Modern Machine Shop

    MC Machinery Technology Summit Unveils Cutting-Edge Manufacturing Innovations

    US-ROK Technology Cooperation Faces Rising Tensions – The National Interest

    Rising Tensions Put US-South Korea Technology Partnership to the Test

    The Role of AI and Technology in Shaping the Future of Interactive Entertainment – Technology Org

    How AI and Technology Are Transforming the Future of Interactive Entertainment

    Ten upcoming sports stadiums where technology takes to the field – Dezeen

    10 Futuristic Sports Stadiums Revolutionizing the Game with Cutting-Edge Technology

    Trending Tags

    • Nintendo Switch
    • CES 2017
    • Playstation 4 Pro
    • Mark Zuckerberg
No Result
View All Result
Earth-News
No Result
View All Result
Home Entertainment

Should vanilla production be stopped?

April 17, 2024
in Entertainment
Should vanilla production be stopped?
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

From ice creams and custards to cakes and confectionery, vanilla is a firm favourite in the world of flavours. But is our dependence upon this fragrant spice sustainable? 

What is vanilla?​

Vanilla is a spice derived from orchids of the genus Vanilla. It’s grown within 10-20 degrees of the equator and is a major crop of Madagascar, Mexico and Tahiti.

As with wine, chocolate and coffee, vanilla has its own distinctive flavour profile and characteristics, depending on the country it’s grown in. This is a result of the different climates, soils, curing methods and vanilla species. For example, vanilla from Madagascar has a more creamy, sweet flavour, while Mexican vanilla is known for its hint of spice.

Environmental impact of vanilla​

The growing of vanilla has attracted increasing criticism in recent years as it’s directly connected to the deforestation of the rainforests in the growing regions. The Sava region of Madagascar, in particular, has undergone intense deforestation in recent decades, using the slash-and-burn method.

What is the slash-and-burn method of deforestation?​

This involves the cutting and burning of plants in forest or woodland areas to create a field called a swidden. The downed vegetation, or ‘slash’, is then left to dry before being burned to create a nutrient-rich layer of ash, making the soil beneath it fertile, as well as temporarily eliminating weed and pest species. However, after three to five years, the soil’s productivity decreases due to depletion of nutrients, along with weed and pest invasion, causing the farmers to abandon the field and move to a new area.

The time it takes for a swidden to recover depends on the location and can range from five years to more than twenty years, after which the plot can be slashed and burned again, repeating cycle.

“The Sava region is really a hotspot of biodiversity,” said Mimie Ravaroson of flavours and fragrances supplier Symrise at London Flavour Day, hosted by the UK Flavour Association. “This beautiful biodiversity is under threat from slash-and-burn [deforestation].”

While some ingredients, such as cocoa and coffee, have come under close scrutiny for their connection to deforestation, vanilla has received less attention.

“The EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR)​ does not cover vanilla in its list of products and commodities, although in the future it could be expanded,” Rina Razanakolona, director of the Union for Ethical BioTrade (UEBT) Madagascar, told FoodNavigator.

“It is concerning to sacrifice biodiversity within precious ecosystems like those in Madagascar for the production of vanilla,” Dr Laura Kavanaugh, chief science officer for Advancing Eco Agriculture (AEA), told FoodNavigator. “Large scale deforestation not only reduces unique biodiversity but also impacts weather patterns. Given that there are artificial substitutes for vanilla, there seem to be better options for producing this flavouring.”

Vanilla - Deforestation - GettyImages-Justin PagetDeforestation is a major concern in the growing of vanilla. GettyImages/Justin Paget

One example of this synthetic vanilla flavour is synthetic vanillin, a lab-produced version of the same chemical compound that occurs naturally in real vanilla. However, many consumers are increasingly turning away from synthetic flavours and ingredients and would therefore welcome a sustainable alternative to the current farming practices of implemented to grow vanilla.

“Regenerative farming practices offer the greatest hope for sustainably producing any crop, including vanilla,” says Dr Kavanaugh. “By employing regenerative practices like minimising soil disturbance, maximising plant diversity through practices like cover cropping, and keeping living roots in the soil throughout the year, farmers can enhance their soil fertility. This will ensure that their land can hold water, modulate extreme temperatures, and maintain resilience to weather extremes.”

In addition to the loss of biodiversity, the loss of the trees themselves is having a direct impact on climate change. Trees and plants absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere as they grow. This is converted into carbon and stored in the plant’s branches, leaves, trunks, roots and in the soil. The cutting down of these trees removes this process and the burning of the plants in the slash-and-burn method then releases the carbon dioxide back into the atmosphere. However this does not mean that abandoning the production of vanilla altogether is the only solution.

“If consumer demand for natural vanilla decreases, thousands of smallholders will lose their livelihoods, often without viable alternatives,” Christiane Hornikel, lead of Herbs & Spices at the Rainforest Alliance, told FoodNavigator. “Instead, consumers can support more sustainable vanilla production avoiding deforestation by looking for products that carry the Rainforest Alliance Certified seal.

“Independent, third-party auditors, critical to the integrity of any certification programme, evaluate farms against requirements before awarding or renewing certification. The audit primarily checks to see if the required systems, controls, and incentives are in place to help ensure that sustainability requirements are followed all year round.”

 ​

Vanilla - Farmers - GettyImages-DINphotogalleryEnsuring vanilla farmers are fairly compensated for the vanilla pods they produce is also a major sustainability concern. GettyImages/DINphotogallery

Fair trade concerns over vanilla​

In addition to concerns relating to the environmental impact of vanilla production, there are also concerns relating to the treatment of the farmers growing the vanilla plants.

“For vanilla farmers and Madagascan people in general, vanilla is not a food, it is not a spice, it is for money, it is for life,” says Symrise’s Ravaroson.

Despite this reliance upon vanilla for financial stability, there is growing concern that farmers are not being fairly compensated for the work they do and the product they produce.

“The Fairtrade Foundation is concerned about the treatment and challenges vanilla farmers face,” Marta Sort Creus, senior programme manager on vanilla at The Fairtrade Foundation, told FoodNavigator. “Despite, vanilla traditionally being one of the world’s most expensive spices, this does not translate into a decent income for farmers putting many families at risk. While the number of farmers and workers that grow herbs and spices is vast and diverse, the number of companies that trade and market them is not.

“Many producers work in remote areas with poor transport and telecommunication links. This increases their production costs, hampers their market access, and makes them reliant on a limited number of traders.”

The farmers are also being impacted by the increase in extreme weather events resulting from climate change.

“Changing weather patterns, like the recent cyclone in Madagascar, can further fuel price fluctuations, making it even harder for smallholder farmers to earn a decent living from their crops,” added Sort Creus.

Though this is part of a negative cycle, with deforestation implemented to grow vanilla leading to the extreme weather events which impact vanilla growth, vanilla farmers need support to adopt more sustainable growing methods. They can’t do it alone. The Fairtrade Foundation is working to mitigate some of the power imbalances found in trade systems through fairer wages and the support of farmers. Like the Rainforest Alliance, the Fairtrade Foundation is also keen to highlight that no longer consuming vanilla is not the answer.

“Instead of no longer consuming vanilla, we need to ensure a secured living income for vanilla farmers in a more stable market that would enable long term growth of this iconic natural flavour, serving farmers as well as the environment,” explains a spokesperson for the Fairtrade Foundation. “Although vanilla farmers face various challenges, the cultivation of this crop also provides them with a source of income. Therefore, it is important to ensure that the farmers and workers are paid a fair income to support their families and communities.”

Innovation in vanilla production​

As well as making vanilla production more sustainable in the existing growing regions, some companies are innovating to produce vanilla more sustainably elsewhere.

Founded in 2020, Israeli start-up, Vanilla Vida, is implementing smart farming techniques to overcome the “biggest pain point” for flavour houses in the natural vanilla market, an unstable supply chain. It’s cultivating vanilla in climate-controlled greenhouses in Israel, mitigating the most common risks associated with vanilla growing, while also producing higher yields.

“You can do three seasons every two years, because your growing cycle is shorter,” ​co-founder and CEO, Oren Zilberman, told FoodNavigator​.

Other organisations, such as the Sustainable Vanilla Initiative (SVI), are also working to improve the sustainability to naturally-grown vanilla by creating a,” long-term stable supply of high-quality, natural vanilla, that is produced in a socially, environmentally and economically sustainable way.”

>>> Read full article>>>
Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source : FoodNavigator – https://www.foodnavigator.com/Article/2024/04/17/should-vanilla-production-be-stopped?utm_source=RSS_Feed&utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=RSS

Tags: entertainmentShouldVanilla
Previous Post

Expert vs consumer sensory panels: Best of both worlds?

Next Post

Nestlé’s top tip for communicating regen ag in dairy? ‘Show, don’t tell’

Drayton Harbor’s bacteria problem – Washington State Department of Ecology (.gov)

Battling the Bacteria Crisis in Drayton Harbor: Essential Facts You Can’t Miss

August 29, 2025
Entomologists, Fellow Scientists Report Negative Impacts of Government Actions – Entomology Today

Entomologists and Scientists Reveal Alarming Consequences of Recent Government Actions

August 28, 2025
Scientists Reveal What’s Inside Mars: It’s Chunky, With a History of Violence – ScienceAlert

Scientists Reveal Mars’ Chunky Interior and Turbulent History

August 28, 2025
These simple life changes can prevent diabetes and dementia – Earth.com

Easy Lifestyle Changes to Lower Your Risk of Diabetes and Dementia

August 28, 2025
Japan’s legacy LCD and chip technology find new home in India – Nikkei Asia

How Japan’s Breakthrough LCD and Chip Technologies Are Driving Innovation in India

August 28, 2025
Sports Betting Market Forecast and Company Analysis Report 2025-2033 Featuring 888, Bet365, Bet-at-Home, Betfred, Betsson, DraftKings, Entain, Flutter, International Game Technology, Kindred Group – Yahoo Finance

Sports Betting Market Outlook 2025-2033: In-Depth Analysis of Leading Industry Players

August 28, 2025
Meet The World’s Best Management Consulting Firms 2025 – Forbes

Explore the Leading Management Consulting Firms Shaping 2025

August 28, 2025
US Economy: 2Q GDP Rises to 3.3%, Jobless Claims Fall – Yahoo Finance

US Economy: 2Q GDP Rises to 3.3%, Jobless Claims Fall – Yahoo Finance

August 28, 2025
‘Big Brother’s’ Rylie Jeffries Finally Speaks Out on Katherine Woodman Controversy – El Paso Inc.

Big Brother’s Rylie Jeffries Finally Speaks Out on Katherine Woodman Controversy

August 28, 2025
Healthy Diet, Physical Activity Improve Alcohol-Related Liver Health – HCPLive

How Healthy Eating and Exercise Can Transform Alcohol-Related Liver Health

August 28, 2025

Categories

Archives

August 2025
MTWTFSS
 123
45678910
11121314151617
18192021222324
25262728293031
« Jul    
Earth-News.info

The Earth News is an independent English-language daily published Website from all around the World News

Browse by Category

  • Business (20,132)
  • Ecology (795)
  • Economy (814)
  • Entertainment (21,693)
  • General (16,728)
  • Health (9,855)
  • Lifestyle (828)
  • News (22,149)
  • People (815)
  • Politics (822)
  • Science (16,024)
  • Sports (21,313)
  • Technology (15,795)
  • World (796)

Recent News

Drayton Harbor’s bacteria problem – Washington State Department of Ecology (.gov)

Battling the Bacteria Crisis in Drayton Harbor: Essential Facts You Can’t Miss

August 29, 2025
Entomologists, Fellow Scientists Report Negative Impacts of Government Actions – Entomology Today

Entomologists and Scientists Reveal Alarming Consequences of Recent Government Actions

August 28, 2025
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Privacy & Policy
  • Contact

© 2023 earth-news.info

No Result
View All Result

© 2023 earth-news.info

No Result
View All Result

© 2023 earth-news.info

Go to mobile version