This year marks the third year of operation for our sustainable vanilla program in Madagascar. These three years have been rich in challenges and learnings, but most importantly, in concrete results that attest to the dedication of our teams, partners, and the producing communities. In just three years, we have witnessed the growth of the planters' association, the advancement of sustainable agricultural practices, and the proliferation of essential daily life initiatives, including access to drinking water, health coverage, educational support, and reforestation. Our ambition remains unwavering: to build a more sustainable, resilient, and equitable vanilla supply chain, with transparency and traceability at the heart of our actions.
Muriel Acat – President of Prova
Vanilla is not merely a crop; it embodies a human and environmental narrative. Three years after the launch of our sustainable program, the results are evident: producers and their families are supported, communities receive enhanced assistance, and ecosystems are preserved. Every action undertaken in Madagascar confirms that a vanilla supply chain can be simultaneously fair, sustainable, and resilient.
At the core of the program, spread across five villages, the producers of FIBIMI – a local association established to structure the vanilla supply chain and support planters in implementing the sustainable program – benefit from comprehensive assistance that transforms their daily lives and those of their families. In terms of skills development, all planters have received training in Good Agricultural Practices (GAP), with a significant majority now applying over 80% of these methods; furthermore, associative and financial management modules enhance their collective autonomy. Regarding health and water access, all households are covered by a mutual health insurance scheme, and four new sources of drinking water facilitate supply. On the educational front, children from these families directly benefit from the program: 479 students aged 6 to 14 have received school kits, and 785 children have access to school snacks during the 2024-2025 academic year. Lastly, for food security and income diversification, over half of the producers have been trained in improved rice cultivation; in parallel, the distribution of 2,440 clove trees and 500 fruit trees as cash crops opens new economic prospects for households.
The program's planters are also committed to preserving the ecosystems that are crucial for vanilla's long-term viability. The supply chain is becoming structured: they now cultivate 250 hectares across 468 declared plots, while a first batch of green vanilla has been traced back to the production village, a key milestone towards increased transparency. Drone mapping enhances agronomic monitoring and the protection of surrounding soils and forests. Regarding ecosystem restoration, 12,850 forest trees and 750 fruit trees have been distributed for reforestation, accompanied by awareness campaigns to limit deforestation; in total, nearly 32 hectares have been reforested in three years. Collectively, these initiatives demonstrate the direct involvement of communities in building a more resilient, transparent, and environmentally respectful supply chain.
What's next?
Our ambition for the coming years is clear: to continue and expand the program's impact. Firstly, we aim to broaden the community by welcoming new planters into FIBIMI, thereby strengthening collective momentum and offering the same opportunities to more families. Secondly, we will enhance reforestation and biodiversity, with a medium-term goal of planting 20,000 trees and implementing agroforestry practices that preserve the richness of local ecosystems. Finally, we intend to further develop social initiatives by expanding efforts in education, health, and food security, through initiatives closely tailored to the needs expressed by the communities. The program's future is rooted in a logic of shared growth, where each new stage benefits the planters, their families, and the surrounding environment.