A new initiative, the Sustainable Pineapple Alliance (SPA), has been launched as a means of addressing the inequalities inherent in the pineapple sector.
According to Dutch organics and sustainable farming specialist Eosta, which is behind the initiative, the SPA has been formed in order to 'motivate, stimulate, help and assist stakeholders in the pineapple chain to move towards sustainable pineapples for everybody'.
The chief aim of the SPA is to allow all stakeholders in the chain to benefit.
'It is of vital importance for everybody, from those doing the actual planting, nurturing and harvesting, but also for the small-scale farmers, wholesalers, purchasers, supermarkets and small mom & pop businesses, up to the final consumer, that a sustainable and traceable supply chain is created for the product,' Eosta stated.
The initial focus will reportedly be to improve and maintain soil fertility, study smallholder schemes and run pilots involving the rotation of local cash crops.
Once such tests have been carried, the knowledge gained can then be disseminated to all members, Eosta revealed, with the final goal being to launch a platform to share the acquired knowledge with all interested parties.
