Symrise Provides Relief Efforts After Cyclone “GAMANE” Hits Madagascar

Symrise Provides Relief Efforts After Cyclone “GAMANE” Hits Madagascar

(IN BRIEF) In the wake of cyclone “GAMANE” striking Madagascar’s SAVA region, affecting the main vanilla growing area, Symrise ensures the safety of its 200 employees and extends aid to the affected community. The cyclone caused flooding, damaging houses, rice fields, and road infrastructure, impacting approximately 90,000 people. Symrise offers shelter and financial support to its employees, while setting up a crises cell to monitor and mitigate risks. The company’s “closest to the source program” for vanilla proves instrumental in providing quick assistance, as Symrise employees collaborate with local farmers year-round. Through various initiatives, including spice bazaars and health insurance, Symrise supports both its employees and partner farmers, demonstrating its commitment to community welfare during challenging times.

(PRESS RELEASE) HOLZMINDEN, 6-Apr-2024 — /EuropaWire/ — End of March, cyclone “GAMANE” hit the island of Madagascar in the North of Sambava (Vohémar). Wind and heavy rains have impacted the SAVA region, the main growing area of vanilla, for several days, among them also employees of Symrise. All of the 200 Symrise employees working on various sites across the SAVA region are safe.

The water amounts from the severe weather have flooded many houses. Due to high river levels, some rice fields have been destroyed and road infrastructure has been damaged. At this stage, approx. 90,000 people are affected by flooded houses or have been displaced (according to BNGRC*). Where necessary, Symrise offers shelter to its employees and provides financial support to both permanent and temporary workers to help them deal with the current situation. None of the Symrise inventories and assets have been impacted.

Symrise has set up a dedicated crises cell in the SAVA region, working to minimize risks and sharing regular updates. As part of it, the impact on rice and vanilla fields is closely monitored and mitigated as much as possible.

Closest to the source program

Among other things, the closest to the source program for vanilla (inspiring vanilla™ solutions) on Madagascar has also facilitated the quick help. Symrise employees work with local farmers all year around. Next to proprietary local curing, extraction and quality assurance facilities, the program entails on-island research, whose results are exchanged with our partner farmers for joint crop and farmer livelihood optimization. Furthermore, regenerative agricultural practices incl. crop diversification and promotion of biodiversity, are part of the Symrise program. The community impact facet of the program (incl. health insurance, education and trainings) also proves helpful in challenging times like these:

Through it Symrise can support local farmers and employees and provide direct help on the ground. Symrise furthermore supports Madagascar communities by regularly holding a so-called “spice bazar” at company locations, which enables Symrise employees to obtain spices grown by our partner farmers, such as vanilla pods and peppercorns. The proceeds of these sales directly benefit the smallholder farmers and are also used to provide employees and partners with basic supplies during these challenging times. Also the Mahavelona mutual health insurance as well as collaborations with experts in social & environmental activities are key pillars of the program.

* BNGRC (Bureau National de Gestion des Risques et des Catastrophes)

Media Contact:

Telephone: +49 (0) 5531/90-0
E-mail: info@symrise.com

SOURCE: Symrise