| SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT > CNI APPROACH |
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Sustainable development, was defined at the United Nations conference on environment and development (Rio de janeiro, 3-14 June 1992) as "Development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs".
CNI has been for many years involved in a global and voluntarist approach aiming to associate economic development, preservation of environment and social equity.
Present in Africa for over 100 years, and strongly aware of its social and environmental responsibilities, CNI has focused its actions on 4 key issues, which are:
- Fight against poverty
- Fight against desertification
- Access to freshwater
- Environmental policy
In 14 countries of the Sahelian belt, south of the Sahara Desert in Africa, hundreds of thousands of poor farmers and their families earn a living growing acacia trees and collecting and selling the gum these trees produce. For more than 2000 years this gum has been used as a food, a food additive and a protective coating for food products. In the last century, further uses for Gum acacia include its use as an additive to protect foodstuffs, to extend their shelf life, thus preventing food losses.
However, in the food trade and in some food regulations, Acacia gum is called "gum arabic" and the use of this term has led some food producers to consider putting an end to the use of acacia gum in their products as a possible means of combating terrorism. In fact, taking such far-fetched action would have no effect on terrorism, but would be extremely damaging to the income and subsistence levels of some of the poorest people in Africa.
Lastly, but not least, the Acacia tree exudate, Acacia Gum, is a direct income source for thousands of rural families that are perilously near the poverty line. Acacia Gum is also an export, and a source of hard currency that is vitally needed to support sustainable development in the least developed countries where it is produced. As such it contributes to a greater degree of self-reliance in these Sahelian countries, something that is dear to the US Government, USAID and other aid agencies trying to assist Africa. The May 2000 Trade and Development Act contains the African Growth and Opportunity Act: AGOA, promoting increased trade and investment between the US and sub-Saharan African countries, promoting economic development moving across a wide range of industries, entrepreneurs, farmers and families.
On the consumer side, studies carried out on Gum Acacia show it to be a valuable source of fibre in the diet and a most useful ingredient in human nutrition. Gum Acacia is a fibre that is not digested in the stomach or small intestine, but is fully reduced in the large intestine by beneficial bacteria, helping to improve or maintain healthy bowel function. It can also be used in weight control diets and, according to current research, may have several other health benefits. In short, it is a natural and bio-active substance that helps to maintain or improve health.
A mutually beneficial situation exists at present for the growing and harvesting of Acacia trees in sub-Saharan Africa. Gum Acacia and acacia trees produce multiple benefits for Sahelian African farmers and their families. It also makes a positive contribution to the food industry and consumers in the developed world. It would be a severe blow to the African producing countries if acacia tree cultivation, expanding trade and current use of gum acacia were negatively influenced by a misguided decision based on current concerns about terrorism. The Sahelian African farmers involved in the production of Gum Acacia would be the first to suffer and they in fact have nothing to do with the terrorist threat today.
Yours sincerely
John R. Lupien
Adjunct Professor of Food Science
University of Massachusetts,
Amherst,
Formerly Director, Food and Nutrition Division
Food and Agriculture Organization of the U.N.
ACACIA TREES FIX NITROGEN
As a leguminous plant that fixes nitrogen in the soil, it helps to improve soil fertility, allowing food crops to be grown between the rows of Acacia trees.
ACACIA TREES FIX THE SOIL
Acacia plantations and villages that grow acacia border the Sahara, contributing to the fight against spreading of the Sahara desert.
ACACIA TREES FIX THE POPULATIONS
Acacia trees help nomadic populations to relocate to rural villages by providing forage for their cattle, limiting urban migration. It should also be pointed out that the production, harvesting, and processing of Acacia Gum is carried out exclusively by African adults, and no child labor is used in any part of the process. In fact, the areas where Acacia trees are grown are considered as hunting area, and children are never allowed into these areas. The processing of Acacia Gum in Africa is carried out mostly be women, providing employment in areas where jobs are hard to find.
ACCESS TO FRESHWATER
In some sahelian areas, water is so scarce that households can hardly supply more than 5 litres! Water is a question of life for mankind. Men and women living in the sahelian areas walk regularly dozens of kilometers to harvest one kilogram of gum. It take about one week to an household to harvest 100 kg of gum, so water is more than ever a question of life for theses populations.
Through its partner SCCL located in D'Jamena, Chad, CNI works closely with the farmers, firstly by buying their products at consensual prices, and participating to economic development, thus to the reduction of poverty.
CNI contributes also to provide freshwater to local populations. CNI drill wells, particularly in the gum producing areas, where farmers currently walk many kilometers to harvest gum, without any available freshwater. Thats why CNI aims to provide them wells to make their work easier. Then, the gum harvested in these areas may be sold to CNI though SCCL, but to CNI competitors as well.
CNI meet the populations, and lead discussions with them and the authorities to choose together where the wells should be implanted. Many wells have already been drilled: in Dourbali, Am-Iman, Adjara-Kouka, etc.
The latest well was recently drilled in Salamat, 750 km far from Djamena. The drilling was done down to 47 meter deep, and provided a daily rate of flow of 10 m3 / hour.
The preservation of environment has always been a major preoccupation for the CNI Group.
We are seeking to achieve the systematic integration of environmental aspects in our expansion initiatives. Notably, CNI has implement a ambitious environmental policy on its industrial site.