The awards are granted to companies in the food sector whose activities promote the conservation of biodiversity as well as the equitable sharing of benefits throughout the supply chain. As consumers grow more aware of biodiversity, they become more demanding about how the food sector sourced their natural ingredients.

Lotus Foods works to bring traditional rice varieties to the US market to help ensure their preservation. By creating a market for these varieties the company provides an incentive for small-scale producers to continue to cultivate them, in the face of pressure to adopt the few varieties that dominate the market. The company works with producers that use techniques that help create a biodiversity friendly environment while saving precious resources such as water.

Lotus Foods works in many countries including the Himalayan Kingdom of Bhutan, where it helps its farmer partners keep the biodiversity of the nutritional red rice alive for their own consumption as well as for export.

“We are honored to have been recognized by UEBT for our work to promote rice biodiversity and change today's rice market for the better. This means healthier rice choices for consumers and new income for marginalized farmers,” said co-founder of Lotus Foods, Ken Lee (pictured accepting the award). “To be internationally acknowledged for playing a leadership role in conserving rice biodiversity goes to the heart of what Lotus Foods is all about. We hope we will be able to reach many more people about the urgency and necessity of preserving rice biodiversity.”

The Union for Ethical BioTrade (UEBT) is a non-profit association that promotes the ‘Sourcing with Respect’ of ingredients that come from biodiversity. Members commit to gradually ensuring that their sourcing practices promote the conservation of biodiversity, respect traditional knowledge and assure the equitable sharing of benefits all along the supply chain. Learn more about the 2011 awards (PDF).