Co-operative Valplantes/Bio Alp Tea

Best Practice

Topics

• Regional value added
• Governance capacity

Short description

The Valplantes Co-operative with its 100 members has been producing ecologically grown herbs and medicinal plants in the Valais Alps for the last twenty years. (the project has started 1987). The organisation works with powerful drying plant and supplies leading Swiss companies in the food, cosmetics and pharmaceutical industries. In cooperation with a number of partners, Valplantes has put a herbal ice tea on the market called Bio Alp Tea. Involved economic sectors and branches: plant production (agriculture) in Valais, aliment-, cosemtic and pharmaceutical industries in Switzerland, swiss supermarket chains, research institutes in Switzerland

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Project executive

Coopérative Valplantes, production de plantes aromatiques et médicinales biologiques du Valais

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Participants

A hundred producers of herbs and medicinal plants, management, technical committee, employees of the co-operative, scientific and technical panel. Co-operation with external partners in agricultural research: Agroscope RAC Changins (ferns) and Médiplant. Other external partners: Office de vulgarisation agricole (dissemination of agricultural know-how), Valais College of Agronomy, Valais Dairy Union, Plantamont (umbrella for Swiss producers).

Objectives

The main objectives that led to the foundation of Valplantes are still valid today, namely: promoting the continuation of mountain farming based on respect for the environment, promoting diversity in terms of agricultural produce, income generation for full and part-time farmers, the fight against the rural exodus, upgrading the landscape and environment. With such problems as small acreages, steep slopes, limits to mechanised working and low yields, the Swiss mountain areas do not lend themselves to profitable farming based on the traditional cultivation of cereals or mixed farming with livestock and cereals. It therefore makes sense to promote new agricultural activities (organic farming) that make ecological use of the soil, contribute to the preservation of biodiversity and provide a reasonable income.

Activities

Measures already completed: establishment of a co-operative and the necessary legal structures in 1985, introduction of the cultivation of ecologically grown herbs and medicinal plants in Valais, creation of the administrative structures needed to co-ordinate production and provide producers with technical and administrative support, construction of two drying plants and continuous improvements to the plants, modifications and enhancements to the methods of cultivation, creation of a joint stock company (Provalplantes SA), identifying new markets for unprocessed plants and finished products, development of finished products with added value (Bio Alp Tea, herbal teas), development of new plants in collaboration with customers and research institutes, marketing ecologically grown herbs and medicinal plants and the finished products.

Process

establishment of a co-operative 1985, education of cultivation of ecologically grown herbs,creation of the administrative structures, development of new plants in collaboration with customers and research institutes

Results

After twenty years’ work it can be said that, in qualitative terms, the main goals have been achieved. Organic farming has been established and new sources of income generated in the agricultural sector. We produce an annual total of 100 tons of dried plants and are doing everything possible to further increase the yield. In 1996 Valplantes decided to extend its activities to include marketing finished products. The idea of producing a drink on a vegetable basis was implemented in co-operation with partners with experience in that sector, and Bio Alp Tea was successfully launched. Annual sales of the three types of Bio Alp Tea (Classic, Relax and Green) now stand at 1,500,000 litres and continue to grow. Today Bio Alp Tea is to be found on the shelves of most Swiss supermarkets. We are currently working on a number of attractive export projects and additions to our range of vegetable-based products.

Evaluation

We have no information about an evaluation process of the project!

Difficulties

There were many difficulties during the last 20 years: at the beginning, it was missing experience and control of amount. There were problems of organisation, trade, financial, human and technical problems. Inundation after strong percipitation. Thanks to many collaboration with different private and public authorities and thanks to the engagement of the "Valplantes producers" the problems could be beared and solved.

Budget

500000 operating costs per year. (Euro)

Financial backer

Financement: the members of the production co-operative.Investments: credits LIM from agriculture credit office.

Source of information

Competition

Participant at the 2005 Future in the Alps competition

Homepage

http://www.valplantes.ch

Project executive as above

Contact person as above

Comments

Impact on nature and environment

Activities: to maintain the biodiversity in the mountain agriculture, to appreciate the soil, the environment and the landscape of the valleys of Canton Valais. The farmers produce on the base of exact biological methods. Due to investment in the drying plant: 30% saving of electricity. Providing a press to condition the plants: 40% decrease of transport

Economic value added

The value added of the co-operation: between 970000 - 1.3 Mio EUR is every year payed to the farmers. 5 Working places were generated within the co-operation. More than 100 t of dry plant of the alps are disposed to the clients. Interesting revenues for the partners of the project Bio Alp Tea.

Socio-cultural value added

Sideline for about hundred of families. New possibilities of purchase for: women, countrywomen, mothers who stay at home to care the children, pensioners for completing their pension, familiy work (all generations included, knowhow is maintained for generations and genders) authentic, innovative products advance image of the region Valais --> tourism

Innovative content

Valplantes was the first co-operation in Switzerland of plant products. Development of medicinal and aromatic plants and herbs in the Valais. New perspectives for the farmers in the mountains of the Valais. The Bio Alp Tea is the first drink with a big consumption on a basis of medicinal and aromatic plants. The first biological herb ice tea in the world.

Good governance

Co-operation structure with a general assembly for decision-making with equal vote possibilities between small and big producers (1 producer = 1 vote). Regular meetings of the management committee and transmission of the information about the cooperation situation with information evening, active bulletins. Creation of a guides committee for the Bio Alp Tea project. Integration of oficial instance in the tecnical commission.

PR impact

The activities of the co-operation were published in various reports in different media. The broad public was informed with with various campaigns of promotion of the Bio Alp Tea project. The promotions increased the image of the Valais. The communication advances the high profile of aromatic and medicinal plants.

Multiplier effect / networking

Participation of the cooperation on different events in Switzerland and in foreign countries (information days, colloquium, seminars, congress, schools), collaboration with other actors in the agriculture sector, with agriculture research and professional education for projects in the community. Pooling and transmitting experience to various producer groups in Switzerland and foreign countries (vallée d'Aoste, Queyras, Finlande...)

Transferability

The following methods and experiences could be transferable: organisation of production with a cooperative structure, cultural tecniques and adapted mecanisations to conditions in the alpine regions. Domestication and cultivation of endogenous especies, project with interdisciplinary collaboration, development of finished products, selling regional products to big distributors in a country

Further information