About This Project

Known as the 'vanilla triangle,' the Northeast region of Madagascar produces some of the world's highest quality vanilla (V. planifolia). This resource rich area also holds extreme poverty, the majority living off of less than $2/day. At its peak in 2016, vanilla was going for upwards of $400/kilogram. But who benefits from the global trade? This study examines the commodity chain of vanilla to see how benefits are shared and its potential for poverty alleviation.

Ask the Scientists

What is the context of this research?

Recently, due to both climatic disturbances and political unrest in Madagascar the price of Vanilla has reached an all time high of $400 per kilogram. While this might seem like good economic news to the area of Northeast with has chronic poverty and a history of uneven development, however, many of the locals generally do not benefit from such high prices. In fact, high prices might actually have the reverse effect of causing some growers to harvest their vanilla before it is ready- diminishing its quality and overall price they can get for it. There are also environmental issues as high prices drive locals to clear rainforests in order to tap into surging demand. This surge reflects the volatility of the market and the precariousness of those who are involved.

What is the significance of this project?

Madagascar currently grows some of the best Vanilla in the world; however, our understanding of its complex commodity chain is still vague at best. A deeper understanding into the inter-sectional issues of economic, political, social and environmental will help provide the evidence needed to create more equitable distribution of benefits to those at the production side of the chain. We want to provide data to support different community and civil society groups working on poverty alleviation in the area, making sure that targeted inventions, such as the development of an ethically traded vanilla, can be successful and deliver benefits to those who need it most. This research is meant to provide a voice to all actors in the commodity chain.

What are the goals of the project?

Our main goal is to use a commodity chain analysis to trace of benefits in the global trade of high–quality vanilla, particularly to women and youth:

Our three objectives:

Explore the feasibility of an ethical brand (e.g., fair trade) which may be used as a way to stabilize prices and deliver much needed benefits to small farmers.

Deliver research results to Malagasy participants (locals, scientists, government officials and businesses) at local/regional and in the larger workshop with national policymakers in the capital Antananarivo.

Train up to three young Malagasy scientists on research data collection and dissemination into both academic (journals) and more mainstream popular outlets (newspapers, policy briefs, and internet and social media).