Making an Impact
Wupperthal Rooibos is regarded as the highest quality rooibos in the world. Yet until recently, the more than 70 independent farmers in the area were severely impoverished and remained vulnerable to the vagaries of the market.
Making an Impact
Wupperthal Rooibos is regarded as the highest quality rooibos in the world. Yet until recently, the more than 70 independent farmers in the area were severely impoverished and remained vulnerable to the vagaries of the market.
The acknowledgement of Wupperthal as home to the world’s best rooibos planted the seed for the development of a 100% pure, luxury Wupperthal Rooibos product. This was established in October 2015 with a long-term contract between the Fair Wupperthal Rooibos Cooperative Ltd and agriprocessing firm Bestinvestin (Pty) Ltd.
Under the direction of the Cooperative and with the investment of Bestinvestin, 100 ha of additional rooibos fields were prepared and planted during 2018, resulting in the introduction of 26 new producers to the agricultural economy and increased future yields for existing producers.
Through the Cooperative, farmers benefit by earning 5% of revenue generated through Bestinvestin’s sales of Wupperthal Rooibos 1830. Based on 2017 market prices per kilogram of dry rooibos, Cooperative members will earn close to 1000% more than before. Bestinvestin pays members the prevailing market price for rooibos during the harvest season.
The broader, non-agricultural community of Wupperthal also benefits from 1% of Bestinvestins’ revenue from the sales of Wupperthal Rooibos 1830. These funds are paid to the Wupperthal Community Development Trust for the socio-economic development of all 1,700 inhabitants of Wupperthal.
The local community is at last enjoying the direct monetary benefit derived from their intellectual property stemming from more than 200 years of traditional knowledge.
‘’The community of Wuppherthal is one of the most remote and impoverished in the Western Cape.’’
Dr. Dirk Trosky – Director of Business Planning & Strategy. Department of Agriculture – Western Cape Provincial Government.
The transformational nature of the business also creates much-needed employment in the small village of Nieuwoudtville in the Northern Cape Province, where the rooibos is processed and packaged. In a town previously ravaged by unemployment, the construction and fulfilment of Wupperthal Rooibos 1830 packaging has already created more than 36 new jobs, with 20 new jobs created for every additional 10,000 units of Wupperthal Rooibos 1830 sold every month.
As Bestinvestin drives sales of Wupperthal Rooibos 1830, more than 300 new jobs will be created in the wider community, bringing much-needed economic relief to these descendants of the Khoi and San Peoples. Bestinvestin will further develop luxury skincare and antiageing products for the global market.
About Bestinvestin (Pty) Ltd
Bestinvestin is the proud owner of the Wupperthal Rooibos 1830 product and brand. We are a proud Level 2 Broad-Based Black Economically Empowered company with 91% Black ownership that has as its primary philosophy the upliftment of the indigenous producers and communities in the areas in which it operates.
Bestinvestin acknowledges the Traditional Knowledge link between the descendants of the Khoi and San peoples who inhabit Wupperthal, and the origins and consumption of rooibos. We are proud to have been issued a Bioprospecting Permit by the South African Minister of Environmental Affairs, Mrs. Edna Molewa.
Directors:
Professor Brian Figaji (Chairperson)
Kurt Schovell (Non-executive Director)
Matthew Sampson (Managing Director)
You Can Make An Impact
You can show your support for the Wupperthal and Nieuwoudtville communities by purchasing an ongoing monthly order to have Wupperthal Rooibos 1830 delivered to your doorstep on a monthly basis.