Symrise AG, which is continuing with its ongoing sustainability initiative and connection with Madagascar (read more about vanilla in Madagascar in P&F's August issue), has recently sponsored a sporting event in New York, Rencontre Sportive Malgache (RSM), which brings together Malagasy nationals who reside in the U.S. and Canada.
Participants were youth representatives of various local teams who come to the event to compete for trophies in basketball, soccer, volleyball and bocce. Symrise, the event's major U.S. sponsor, had a tabletop exhibit at the opening ceremony where tasting and smelling samples were distributed to educate participants on vanilla. The company also took part in a closing ceremony dinner that featured Malagasy cuisine.
“Our sponsorship of RSM stems from our vanilla production in Madagascar and Symrise’s simply vanilla products, which rely on Madagascar’s exceptionally high quality vanilla beans," said Donna Rosa, senior director, consumer health business unit and global sustainability ambassador for North America. "We support a community-wide network of local farmers in Madagascar, the world’s largest vanilla-growing region, by sharing best practices in sustainable agriculture and vanilla curing with them. Symrise has invested in a new warehouse and factory and has initiated ongoing commitments to farmer training, certification and crop diversification. We also support the farmers and their families with pre-harvest rice loans, children’s education and health insurance.”