Ensuring sustainable trade with Devil’s Claw in Namibia
On September 22, BIA convened commercial partners from Namibia and Europe for a dialogue on the sustainable trade of Devil’s Claw – a plant, indigenous to Namibia and a valuable resource for enhancing economic security in local communities. To support sustainable management and trade, BIA supported the development and rollout of Devil’s Claw-specific Good Agricultural and Collection Practices that also recognize Access and Benefit Sharing principles (GACP+). The webinar facilitated an exchange of different perspectives, including from
- local exporters EcoSo Dynamics [link], and the Namibian Devil’s Claw Exporter Association Trust (NDCEAT) [link]. They explained the GACP+ standards, highlighted the importance of Access and Benefit-Sharing and shared lessons learned from the national context.
- importers such as Givaudan [link] and international standards organization UEBT [link] shared reflections and experiences from the market perspective. They emphasized that responsible sourcing remains a crucial focus area for businesses. @Anaelle Evano, speaking on behalf of Givaudan, explained the company’s motivation for joining the partnership, and highlighted how GACP+ serves as a tool to ensure traceability, fair trade, living wage model and overall sustainability.
The webinar served as a stepping-stone for the joint presentation by NDCEAT and Givaudan on this BIA initiative at the UEBT 2025 Sourcing with Respect conference on 1 October 2025 under the theme: “Real world examples: supply chain partnerships for impact"
A huge thank you to all the participants for an enriching exchange and insightful webinar!
🎥 Watch the webinar in full length on YouTube: https://youtu.be/ZF-6c8eKXAY