Afrigetics has taken the We Use Wild Pledge

Afrigetics has taken the We Use Wild Pledge! This means that we, as an organisation, proudly declare our use of wild plant ingredients, placing a spotlight on what we’re doing to maintain ethical and sustainable sourcing practices in our wild-harvested supply chains.

To ‘kick off’ this pledge, we’d like to share a thought-provoking diary entry from our head horticulturist Finn Rautenbach, whose own heart lies very close to this important matter. We hope you enjoy the read and join us with the hashtag #WeUseWild. 

Aloe ferox plants, commonly known as Cape Aloe or Bitter Aloe

Why Use Wild?

By Finn Rautenbach

A horseshoe bend wrapping around a village in rural eastern cape. Many inhabitants of this village derive an income from harvesting wild grown Pelargonium sidoides or Aloe ferox. Through supporting responsible sourcing of plants, the value of wild spaces like these is deepened

I live in a small cottage on a nature reserve, nestled between cattle and pineapple farms just outside a village in the Eastern Cape of South Africa. Our piece of paradise celebrates the rich diversity of plants found naturally in this area and has been home to nature lovers for the last three generations. The inherent value of this ecosystem is clear to me and has been clear to my predecessors, who have all protected this land for the pure reason of its existence. I consider myself privileged to be a custodian of this land but am fully aware that without active care and clear reasoning pockets of nature like the one I call home are dwindling. 

In South Africa, 9.2% of the mainland is declared protected area. What is not included in this percentage are the vast tracts of wilderness found covering almost a quarter of the Eastern Cape. These areas form part of what was previously known as the Transkei and the Ciskei and are predominantly governed by tribal authorities who have been its custodians for millennia. In these areas, people live in a unique way, touched by the modern world, but still deeply devoted to the traditional ways of respecting nature.

This region is also the heart of wild-sourced medicinal plants in South Africa. Plants like Pelargonium sidoides and Aloe ferox thrive here and have supported the local economies of this region for decades. If done in a manner mindful of nature and respectful to culture, I feel this could encourage these spaces to remain wild and foster the creation of a new sort of protected area. An area where wild spaces are not protected by fences, but rather through the stewardship of local people who derive a livelihood from the sustainable utilisation of naturally occurring plants. 

Wild plants have been and will continue to be used in products that we all consume on a regular basis. In fact, the global trade in these ingredients has increased by over 75% over the last twenty years. It is up to us to start asking, “How have these ingredients been sourced?” Do the companies who source these ingredients do so in a way that cares for the land and for the people who live on it? Through actively engaging in these questions, we will not only be supporting the preservation of wild spaces but cultivating our own inherent respect for the wild as we learn that even in the contemporary age we depend directly on its well-being. 

To learn more about Afrigetics, visit www.afrigetics.com