Kemin Receives Sustainability Certification

DES MONIES, IowaKemin announced that more than 50 percent of its rosemary production is certified as Sustainably Grown after a third-party audit conducted by SCS Global Services (SCS).

According to Kemin, the company invested millions of dollars to develop a sustainable, agronomic approach to growing scientifically advanced rosemary. The company is expected to complete additional audits on its remaining fields to receive certification before the 2014 cropping season.

Sustainably Grown is a stringent certification standards that support long-term sustainable agricultural production. The certificate identifies crops growing in accordance with exceptional environmental and social responsibility, and with quality and safety requirements. This certification represents Kemin's ability to provide natural rosemary extract-based ingredients to its customers that want sustainable agricultural practices that are validated and recognized by consumers.

"Kemin's certification sets an important precedent for ingredient producers," said Linda Brown, SCS senior vice president. "It gives manufacturers of food, health and personal care products who are concerned about long-term sustainability of their ingredients a clear choice and opens the door to potential labeling of their customers' products down the road."

Kemin practices conventional plant breeding to develop proprietary lines of rosemary that generate raw material for a range of natural rosemary extract-based ingredients for the food, pet food, health and personal care industries. Kemin has more than 1,000 acres of conventionally bred, genetically identical rosemary plants in production.

"This certification verifies the investment we have made in developing a sustainable approach to growing our proprietary rosemary plants," said John Greaves, Kemin vice president of specialty groups, Ph.D. "Our vertically integrated system produces a consistent and reliable supply of rosemary extract-based ingredients."

After the development of its proprietary rosemary varieties, Kemin conducted field testing to determine the best growing practices for yielding a sustainable and cost-effective supply of rosemary. Kemin contracts with family farmers in Texas and New Mexico to grow its proprietary rosemary varieties, a partnership that increases the quality and quantity of crops but improves farming practices, promotes healthy working conditions and builds community relations.

Kemin also grows marigold, spearmint and potatoes.

Kemin recently expanded by opening its new Molecular Advancement Center that will open up more than 100 new positions for the company.