Chr. Hansen in Brazilian social project

As part of the “More Life Project” initiated by global food producer Unilever, Chr. Hansen is supporting local annatto production in the North Eastern part of Brazil.

More than 3,000 Brazilian families are now making a living as annatto producers, supplying raw material for Chr. Hansen’s production of natural colors.

This is one of the results of the social “More Life Project” aiming at improving the life quality of the people in Araçoiaba city in the North Eastern part of Brazil. Initiated by Unilever, Chr. Hansen’s role in the project is to render its expertise and technical and commercial support in all steps of the annatto production process – and to buy the annatto harvest at market price in order to sustain the local people getting their own source of income.

Committed to making a difference “We were happy to be invited by Unilever to be their partner in this project. It fits very well with Chr. Hansen’s wish to contribute to a sustainable development in society and act responsibly in the local community,” says Sten Estrup, Regional Vice President, South America.

Good progress “The first cultivation of annatto seeds took place in June of 2007. The plants are coming into blossom now, which surprises us, but the rich soil and all environmental conditions in the particular region have contributed to the early blossom. Our expectation is to get the first harvest at the end of this year,” says Plínio P. Mansim, Purchasing Supervisor, Chr. Hansen Brazil and Chr. Hansen’s ‘More Life’ project coordinator.

The project is developing very well and plans are in place to enlarge the cultivation.