Direct selling major Amway is planning to scale up organic farming to source ingredients for its foods supplements brand Nutrilite for both global and Indian operations, according to a senior company official.
It is currently in discussion with some state governments to increase organic farming to enhance sourcing of different products, including basil, turmeric, marigold, bosiwellia, pomegranate and ginger.
The company, which has four company-owned farms spread over a total of 6,000 acres in Brazil, Mexico and the US, currently sources ingredients in India from nine third-party owned farms certified under its Nutricert programme.
"We have nine different farms in India, which supply many of our ingredients not only for India but also for global manufacturing," Amway Regional President- Europe, India & Africa Samir Behl told PTI.
He further said, "It is fair to say we would like to scale up sourcing of organic ingredients from India for our products."
When asked about the plans to increase organic farming in India, he said: "We are also in discussion with a number of state governments on organic farming, which is at the heart of Nutrilite."
The foods supplement brand Nutrilite is manufactured in the US, China and India. Amway sources many of the ingredients from India also for this brand, he added.
Queried about the sort of arrangement with the state governments that the company was looking at, he said it would depend upon "their interest" on how Amway can "assist in organic farming".
"Whether that means more of Nutricerts or buy farms on our own depending on laws of landholdings. We would like to do things which are within what the law permits," Behl added.
Nutricert is Amway's agricultural certification programme ensuring that its partner farms meet the same quality standards as its own farms, from seeds to supplements.
He said Amway's goal is to "provide products in line with our global process and enhance the health profile of the local citizens".
Amway's four company-owned farms are based in Brazil, Mexico, California and Washington State.
Amway has set a target of reaching USD 1 billion (around Rs 6,500 crore) sales in India by 2025-26. It expects to cross the Rs 2,000-crore mark next year when it completes 20 years of operations in the country.
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