The publication, developed and released by the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) in partnership with the Brazilian Business Council for Sustainable Development (CEBDS), aims to highlight key business and non-business leaders working in Brazil’s food sector.
Concepta Ingredients, a Sabará Group company specializing in natural and technology-driven solutions for the food industry, was featured in the CEO Guide for its “Sociobiodiversity Enhancement Program” case study. Serving the food, beverage, animal nutrition, veterinary pharmaceutical, flavor, chemical, and nutraceutical industries, the company is committed to promoting the conservation of Brazilian biodiversity.
The “CEO Guide to Transforming Brazil’s Food Systems” is a publication released by the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) in partnership with the Brazilian Business Council for Sustainable Development (CEBDS). It is a Brazilian adaptation of the “CEO Guide to Food System Transformation”, originally published by WBCSD in October 2019.
The guide aims to feature interviews with business and non-business leaders working in Brazil’s food sector. Amid global changes and the COVID-19 pandemic, Brazil’s food industry is undergoing significant shifts and facing major challenges as it seeks to lead the transformation of its operating systems.
The CEO Guide therefore identifies seven key business pathways that can drive this transformation:
- Transforming agriculture while restoring the environment;
- Generating and distributing technology and innovation throughout the entire food system;
- Providing quality food for all: healthy, sustainable, and affordable;
- Minimizing food loss and waste;
- Promoting traceability to eliminate illegal deforestation and reward good agricultural practices;
- Accelerating policy and financial innovations to recognize the value of Brazil’s sociobiodiversity and natural resources;
- Fostering partnerships across the value chain to promote an economy.
In Brazil, oils and butters sourced from biodiversity offer a range of health benefits thanks to their naturally occurring vitamins and minerals, while supporting sustainable harvesting and providing local communities with a reliable source of income. By promoting sustainable agro-extractive practices, Concepta Ingredients helps conserve biodiversity by creating value from keeping forests standing. Expanding responsible access to biodiversity also helps increase awareness and understanding of its value, fostering greater commitment to environmental conservation.
Why Is It Important to Choose Certified Organic Foods?
Demand for healthier products and foods with verified origins continues to grow, making organic farming an increasingly attractive and viable option. Today, consumers are looking not only for organic products but also for reliability and ethical sourcing. This trend is reflected in sales figures: according to the Brazilian Organic Promotion Association (Organis), sales of organic products in Brazil grew by more than 40% in the first half of 2020.
Unlike conventional farming, organic production places a strong emphasis on sustainability, environmental conservation, and social well-being. Organic products are obtained through sustainable agro-extractive practices that support local ecosystems, protect natural resources, respect the socioeconomic and cultural characteristics of local communities, safeguard workers’ rights, and avoid the use of genetically modified organisms and synthetic chemicals. Organic standards must be followed throughout every stage of production.
In Brazil, organic certification, also known as the green seal, is a process that verifies whether a product, process, or service complies with organic production standards and practices. It gives businesses a competitive advantage while assuring consumers of food quality, reliability, and origin. To meet these expectations, Concepta maintains its certifications, including product certifications (organic and kosher) and its food safety management system certification (FSSC 22000).
Today, the company is recognized as one of the leading suppliers of natural and organic ingredients. Through partnerships with local communities and cooperatives, its supply chain encompasses approximately 2 million hectares of organically managed land under conservation: 1% in the Caatinga, 2% in the Cerrado, and 97% in the Amazon.
“We’re committed to supporting sustainable agro-extractive supply chains by creating products that make greater use of Brazilian raw materials and bring communities, cooperatives, and associations together throughout the process,” says Ulisses Sabará, CEO of Sabará Group.
In this context, it is worth highlighting the results of the Sociobiodiversity Enhancement Program, launched in 2000, which brings together communities, cooperatives, and associations that supply biodiversity-based raw materials:
More than 6,930 families reached, including partner companies and Quilombola and Indigenous communities engaged in Concepta’s supply chain;
More than 1.9 million hectares of organically managed land indirectly conserved through commercial partnerships with these producers;
More than 27,890 people indirectly impacted by these partnerships;
BRL 7,500 in average additional annual income per family, per metric ton supplied.
About Concepta Ingredients
Concepta Ingredients is part of Sabará Group and specializes in natural and technology-driven solutions developed in accordance with its Sociobiodiversity Valorization Program. Drawing on innovation and research, the company offers organic and exotic ingredients through a business model that empowers families and contributes to the conservation of environmentally vulnerable areas across different Brazilian biomes. Its extensive portfolio includes technologically advanced ingredients from international partners and ingredients sourced from Brazilian biodiversity, meeting the most specific needs of the industries it serves.
