UEBT and UBM Launch Biodiversity in Food Awards 2011

GENEVA, July 4, 2011 /PRNewswire/ --

The Union for Ethical BioTrade (UEBT) and United Business Media (UBM) have launched the second round of the Biodiversity in Food Awards. Launched last year, the annual awards recognise companies in the food sector that are pioneering efforts to promote conservation and the sustainable use of biodiversity, through their supply chains.

Applicants will be rewarded on how they contribute to the objectives of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), which include the promotion of biodiversity conservation, the sustainable use of biodiversity and the equitable sharing of benefits throughout the supply chain.

UEBT, a non-profit association that promotes the ethical trade in biodiversity-based products, said the awards aim to recognise leading companies and products as well as to increase the awareness of sustainable sourcing and good biodiversity practices within the food industry.

"With the awards we want to recognise leaders and innovators in the field, but also highlight the important role businesses can play in realising the biodiversity objectives included in the CBD," said Executive Director of UEBT Rik Kutsch Lojenga.

"The United Nations has declared 2011 to 2020 the Decade of Biodiversity to raise awareness of the value of biodiversity and the steps that can be taken to conserve it and use it sustainably. In this context the Biodiversity in Food Awards will help to raise awareness in the business community," Kutsch Lojenga added.

For UBM Live, the organisers of Fi Europe & Ni 2011, the awards highlight the importance of biodiversity in the food sector.

"The food sector relies heavily on nature as a source  of  inspiration for innovation and product development. Companies are increasingly recognising the strategic importance of biodiversity for their business," said Reindert Dekker, Head of Marketing, UBM Live.

The awards are divided into two categories: innovation and leadership. The innovation award will be given to an innovative product created in a sustainable manner, with respect for the environment and surrounding biodiversity. The leadership award is destined for a company promoting sustainable practices and respect for biodiversity in a way that will influence other businesses to adopt similar practices.

In 2010, the leadership award was given to retailer Coop Switzerland for its commitment to regional produce, rare species and its support to organic farmers. The jury also commended Coop's creative public awareness campaigns to bring biodiversity closer to the consumer.

In the Innovation category, it was Unilever that took first place in 2010 for its Allanblackia project. The company was recognised for its work with rural producers and local biodiversity in Africa in the development of this new vegetable oil, in addition to a commitment to small scale farming systems.

Companies interested in applying to 2011's Biodiversity in Food Awards are invited to send their applications before August 26 2011. Winners will be announced at UBM's Food Ingredients Europe trade show, held this year in Paris, November 29 - December 1. More information and details of how to be apply can be found at http://www.ethicalbiotrade.org/awards.

The Union for Ethical BioTrade (UEBT) is a non-profit association that promotes the 'Sourcing with Respect' of ingredients that come from biodiversity. Members commit to gradually ensuring that their sourcing practices promote the conservation of biodiversity, respect traditional knowledge and assure the equitable sharing of benefits all along the supply chain.

W: http://www.ethicalbiotrade.org

About UBM Live

United Business Media is headquartered in London, UK. The office in the Netherlands is the organiser of the world-leading Health ingredients, Food ingredients, CPhi, ICSE and Informex series of food and pharmaceutical ingredients trade shows. The Dutch office also publishes International Food Ingredients Magazine. For more information, visit http://www.ubm.com.