Why is vanilla so important?
To fully comprehend all the ways in which vanilla positively impacts the environment, we need to understand the remarkable properties of this incredible spice. Please read on to find out more.
Firstly, did you know that vanilla is an orchid? Not only this, but of the 35,000 different orchid species on Earth, vanilla is the only one that produces an edible seed pod. Vanilla grows in rainforest environments, precisely 23 degrees either side of the Equator. This unique orchid is a climbing vine that grows around the trunks of rainforest trees. These are called tutor trees.
Cultivating vanilla is a long and demanding process. It can take up to five years from planting to producing the cured vanilla pods that we use in our kitchens. The process is so time consuming that vanilla is considered one of the most labour-intensive crops in the world.
But why is this important?
The complexities involved in its production make vanilla a high-value commodity. The steamy, tropical rainforests in which vanilla is grown are responsible for absorbing much of the carbon dioxide that is released as a result of our consumption of fossil fuels. Given the climate crisis and its impact upon the planet, preservation of these precious environments has never been more important.
The exclusive properties of vanilla, with its high value and dependency on native trees to grow and prosper, means it can become a crucial crop to generate income for the farming communities in the Equatorial regions, encouraging farmers to preserve the rainforest around them.
Therefore, vanilla cultivation is a great way to sustainably farm the natural environment that surrounds these communities, helping to improve livelihoods, as opposed to many forms of mono-crop agriculture, such as palm oil, which directly contributes to the deforestation and destruction of these precious ecosystems.
Research has shown that, where vanilla is planted, biodiversity is increased. Encouraging vanilla farmers and preserving the rainforest regions is crucial to the health of our planet, benefiting us all.
Launched in 2010, LittlePod was farsighted enough to begin to plan ahead, given the general consensus amongst environmentalists that we could lose real vanilla within a generation unless immediate action was taken. We soon began working with Dr Made Setiawan, our own vanilla farmer in Indonesia, whose dream it was to re-establish his father’s farm.
“Through LittlePod’s funding and support, vanilla can be a viable crop, playing a crucial role in land conservation and forest regeneration,” Made explains. “LittlePod is one of the few companies that has succeeded in connecting real growers to the global market.”
We hope you agree that it is only right that vanilla farmers are recognised for their dedication and their efforts, and are rewarded with a fair wage. It is the indigenous people in the Equatorial regions who possess the expertise and knowledge of the natural environment around them and, moreover, the willingness to plant, preserve and regenerate the rainforests.
These fragile environments are the lungs of the Earth, contributing to the air we all breathe and if, as consumers, we always demand REAL vanilla, we can all play our part.
Some 97% of all the vanillin used in the West is artificial, but if we could make just a 1% incursion into that market, we could double the demand for real, natural vanilla worldwide.
Want to get involved?
Join LittlePod’s Campaign for Real Vanilla! Help us spread the word and let’s make a REAL difference together.