“Today's consumers are more interested in supporting sustainable agriculture practices than ever,” said Linda Brown, SCS senior vice president. “This certification assures Kemin Industries’ customers that the rosemary in its rosemary-based products is not just high-quality but produced in an environmentally and socially responsible way.”

Kemin has invested millions of dollars to develop a sustainable, agronomic approach to growing scientifically advanced rosemary. Using conventional plant breeding, the company develops 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. Today, Kemin has more than 1,100 acres of conventionally bred and genetically identical rosemary plants in production.

“Our vertically integrated system uses the best growing practices to produce a consistent, sustainable and cost-effective supply of rosemary extract-based ingredients that enhance the agro-ecosystem rather than endanger it,” said Dr. John Greaves, Kemin vice president of specialty crops.

The sustainable, agronomic path Kemin has chosen differs greatly from a popular but less widely known approach. Approximately 80 percent of rosemary that is used as a spice or for extraction is harvested from the wild in the Mediterranean region of southern Europe and North Africa under license from sovereign governments. This dramatically alters the natural ecology of these delicate semi-arid ecosystems and produces widely varying quality in the product.

Dedicated to sustainable and environmental farming practices, Kemin contracts with family farmers in Texas and New Mexico to grow its proprietary rosemary varieties. This partnership not only increases the quality and quantity of crops but improves farming practices, promotes healthy working conditions and builds community relations.

As consumers continue to demand more natural products, Kemin is committed to investing and developing more natural, plant-based ingredients. Other specialty crops the company has in production include marigold, spearmint and potato, with new plants under development.

Kemin (www.kemin.com) provides “inspired molecular solutions” specifically developed to provide nutrition and health benefits for humans and animals. Committed to feed and food safety, Kemin maintains top-of-the-line manufacturing facilities where approximately 500 specialty ingredients are made for the global feed and food industries as well as the health, nutrition and beauty markets. A privately held, family-owned and operated company, Kemin has nearly 2,000 employees and operates in 90 countries with manufacturing facilities in Belgium, Brazil, China, India, Italy, Singapore, South Africa and the United States.

SCS (www.scsglobalservices.com) has been providing global leadership in third-party environmental and sustainability certification, auditing, testing, and standards development for three decades. Its programs span a wide cross-section of industries, recognizing achievements in food and agriculture, green building, product manufacturing, forestry, fisheries, and more. SCS is Certified B Corporation, signifying its commitment to environmentally and socially responsible business practices. The SCS Kingfisher certification mark is used to identify products certified by SCS under specific certification claims.