Known? – Only fully ripe mangos are processed, which later become particularly sweet and aromatic.
MANGOS
FROM MALI
The organic project in Mali shows how organic mango cultivation can promote positive change in a conflict-ridden environment.
Led by Django, an agronomist from Sikasso, the project not only promotes the environment, but also sustainably strengthens the economic situation of local communities. Django recognized that remote cultivation areas and a lack of investment were hindering the local processing of mangoes, which meant that a lot of potential was being lost. His vision: to establish a sustainable value chain for mangoes and support regional agriculture at the same time.
Milestones of the project
- 2017: Start of the development of the organic mango project in collaboration with MorgenLand and GIZ
- 2019: Construction of a modern drying plant in Sikasso.
- 2021: Launch of the first dried mangoes of the Brooks, Amelie and Kent varieties as a special edition in organic retail.
In addition, the mangoes were awarded Naturland certification, which not only ensures strict ecological requirements, but also implements social standards along the entire supply chain.
The project uses progressive approaches to minimize the impact on the environment and maximize the benefits for the region:
- Solar-powered irrigation: drip irrigation is already running on a photovoltaic system, enabling sustainable water management.
- Low-emission drying: The conversion of the entire production to solar energy is currently in the planning phase in order to work largely emission-free and independently of the national power grid.
In addition to the high-quality organic mangoes, the project creates jobs and important income opportunities in a region characterized by poverty. To further promote economic stability, an additional building has been erected to house model farms for papayas and bananas as well as a training center for modern cultivation methods and irrigation techniques.
These expansions secure jobs beyond the mango season and ensure that the sources of income continue throughout the year. The result is a model project that shows how organic farming and social responsibility can go hand in hand.
Our contribution
- Raw materials: pre-financing and quantity coordination.
- Support: payments for model farm, audits (HACCP, organic, BRC, Naturland) and necessary construction measures/materials.
- Development: knowledge transfer, investment in equipment, training, project management.
- Certification: preparation (construction, machines, documentation), external audits and certificates (organic, food safety).
- Maintenance & expansion: compliance with annual audit requirements, ensuring certified raw materials, capacity adjustment.
