After the completion of the Tshikuyu Preschool classrooms in February 2019. We started to plan for Phase 2 of the project. The preschool still needed a kitchen and eating area, swing and climbing frame for the children, a water tank and equipment for the classrooms. Here’s what happened…
Bao-Med, a brand of Mediceuticals, has just announced another significant donation to the Baobab Guardians program and the Baobab Research program. Bao-Med is one of the Baobab Foundation’s most generous supporters.
Dr Sarah Venter, founder of the Baobab Foundation, has just had another one of her papers on the fascinating world of baobab ecology published in the prestigious international journal Forest Ecology and Management.
In addition to halal certification, EcoProducts is also certified Organic, FSSC 2200, Kosher and FairWild. This suite of certifications allows EcoProducts to offer its customers world class products and services to meet the demands of consumers for credible and transparent food and cosmetic products.
Dr Sarah Venter (Managing Director at EcoProducts) was invited to be a guest presenter at the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) conference held recently. Sarah presented on quality standards in Baobab Oil and working with communities to achieve high standards and meeting customer expectations.
The Baobab Foundation now has 75 baobab trees planted. Baobab Guardians are appointed to take care of baobab seedlings until they are 3 metres tall when a baobab tree can take care of itself in the wild. Until then, it needs to be watered and protected from goats above all!
Dr Sarah Venter is researching the long-term patterns of baobab fruit production between different landscapes over a period of multiple years. This research provides important insights into the natural variability of baobab fruit production helping EcoProducts ensure that their harvesting practices remain sustainable .
EcoProducts is delighted to be participating in the very first ‘Global Baobab Congress’ in Germany on the 11th of February. It’s being organised by the African Baobab Alliance (ABA) of which I’m a member and I’ll be talking to participants from around the world about long term ecological research into Baobab. There’s been increasing world-wide […]
Recently, various media reports have stated that nine of the 13 biggest baobab trees in southern Africa had collapsed or died in quick succession. Some experts have suggested that climate change may have played a key role in their downfall, although research is still ongoing. These gnarly giants are very much a part of the […]
Sarah Venter’s Baobab Guardians tree planting project had reached its goal of 50 trees and so she believed the project was complete. But it seems the project has other ideas…
Agence France-Presse, the third largest news agency in the world recently visited EcoProducts in the Limpopo to film them at work. Some lovely footage of the EcoProducts team processing the baobab fruit pods.
EcoProducts Baobab fruit powder production facility has been certified FSSC 22000 V4.1 compliant. FSSC 22000 Food Safety System Certification is a highly regarded level of food certification that meets global standards. FSSC 22000 is fully recognised by the Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI)
Inspired by her PhD research on baobab trees, Dr Sarah Venter wans to make the fascinating information usually available only in obscure scientific papers, available to a much broader audience including children. The Little BIG BAOBAB book is for everyone who loves baobab trees…
As some of hardiest, long-lived trees around, Baobabs know how to make the most of scarce resources, especially water. On World Water Day, when we’re bringing awareness to one of our Earth’s most precious resources, what lessons can we learn from Baobabs?
These baobab seedling pics remind me of the boldness of youth. And these days sadly, if they’re growing in an inhabited area, they’re bound to get eaten by livestock. Out there in the ‘wild’ they just have to make the most of a few weeks of life and then the thousand year promise in their genes is extinguished. Which is why the work of the Baobab Guardians becomes so important.
EcoProducts has been recognized by the South African Department of Environment Affairs as a “Game Changer” in the sector. Sarah Venter, founder and owner of EcoProducts has been invited to share the stage with Minister Dr Edna Molewa at the official opening of the Biodiverisity Economy Indaba being held in East London on the 8th March 2018.
Santa came early for these pre-school little ones!
It is baobab flowering time again giving us the chance to continue our research into the ecology and pollination of the baobab flower.
‘Graduation’ for pre-school! The EcoProducts Baobab Foundation support a number of pre-schools in various villages in the area. We believe this a vitally important aspect of early childhood development that urgently needs our attention and funding in order to break the poverty cycle. Now the children we’ve been helping to support are ready to ‘graduate’ to ‘big’ school!
Our big event celebrating planting 50 baobab trees was a huge success! The purpose of the event was firstly to celebrate and make heroes of the Baobab Guardians, thereby inspiring others to also plant trees. Secondly, it was to present certificates to those Guardians whose baobab seedlings have almost reached 3 metres in height which […]
We’re thrilled to announce that what began as a dream in November 2013 has become a reality today! We have planted 50 baobab trees in the wild thanks to the help of our wonderful sponsors. Baobab trees can live to over a thousand years old, are tough and sturdy and can survive near desert-like conditions. So why do we need to nurture baobab seedlings until they are strong enough to survive in the wild?
EcoProducts Baobab fruit powder production facility has been certified FSSC 22000. FSSC 22000 Food Safety System Certification is a highly regarded level of food certification that meets global standards. FSSC 22000 is fully recognised by the Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI)
Biology and Zoology students of the University of Limpopo enjoy learning about how baobab fruit help to support rural livelihoods and the conservation of baobab trees.
There are entrepeneurs, solopreneurs, socialpreneurs. And then there are enviropreneurs! In April 2017 I was invited to give a talk on Enviropreneurship to students from the University of Venda.
Thank you to LTT Bolt & Nut for their generous donations to the Baobab Foundation. Pre-school creches are sadly neglected in these rural areas of the Limpopo so it’s always great news when we receive donations for much needed equipment and facilities.