United Exports, responsible for the Ozblu blueberry brand, confirmed that all its production units in southern Africa reached Platinum status in its first independent environmental audits carried out by the South Africa Sustainability Initiative (Siza) and by Linking Environment and Farming (Leaf)With this, the company becomes the first large-scale blueberry producer in obtaining Leaf certification in the region.

The company emphasized that this goal is part of a long-term strategy to produce high-value fruit without compromising the ecosystems where it operates. “Achieving this certification underscores our unwavering commitment to sustainability and environmental management,” the firm said when announcing the result.

The process was made possible through collaborative work with development finance institutions. United Exports has been associated with [the development finance institution] for years. IFC (International Finance Corporation, arm of the World Bank) and FMO (Development Bank of the Netherlands), organizations that promote investments with social and environmental impact and that supported the implementation of more demanding standards on Ozblu farms.

The certification comes in a challenging global context: according to the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF)Global biodiversity fell by 73% between 1970 and 2020, putting pressure on agriculture to demonstrate that it can produce and conserve at the same time.

Agriculture integrated with conservation

One of the company's emblematic cases is Nyami Berries, a 253-hectare field in South Africa where 29% of the land is within the Magaliesberg Biosphere Reserve, protected area. This integration of agriculture and conservation, the company explained, reflects its holistic approach to producing blueberries sustainably and with environmental traceability.

United Exports noted that the work to achieve Platinum status took several years and included improvements in water management, carbon footprint, biodiversity protection, responsible use of pesticides and climate change mitigation on all farms in the group.

“Agriculture and the environment can thrive together”

“Achieving the highest certification across all our Ozblu farms is more than a milestone: it’s proof that agriculture and environmental preservation can thrive together.”, he claimed Roger Horak, founder and CEO of United Exports. The executive recalled that the journey began six years ago and that the company decided to anticipate market demands.

“This achievement, made possible by the support of our partners at the IFC and FMO, demonstrates that blueberry production can be technically advanced, profitable, and environmentally friendly. For us, this is not optional: it is essential for the future of the planet.”Horak concluded.