A margarine made from the seeds of an indigenous African tree has just been made available to the Swedish market.

Becel Gold 79% is promoted as being equal in flavour to other food fats or butter when it comes to cooking, roasting and baking.

Among its ingredients are seeds from the Allanblackia tree which grows in the moist forests of West, East and Central Africa. The seeds contain around 70 per cent solid white fat which has traditionally been used for cooking and soap making but more recently was identified as a potentially valuable ingredient for food products and cosmetics in international markets.

A major public private partnership has been operating since in 2002 with aim of establishing a sustainable supply of Allanblackia oil through domestication techniques, tree management practices and conservation strategies. The partnership involves Unilever (the makers of Becel margarine products), the World Agroforestry Centre and other local and international organizations.

Becel Gold 79% is designed in line with the new Nordic Nutrition Recommendations (NNR) and is naturally rich in heart-healthy Omega 3 and Omega 6 which helps to maintain normal cholesterol levels.

Through using Allanblackia oil, the product supports sustainable development for the farmers in Africa, who are being paid for something they have not previously been able to earn a living from.

For more information about the product (in Swedish), visit: http://www.becel.se/becel/hjartvanliga-becel-produkter/becel-mat-15.aspx

For more information about Allanblackia, visit: http://allanblackiapartners.org/

Related article: From obscure forest species towards a globally traded commodity: Lessons from Allanblackia

Download the Seeds of Hope booklet which chronicles the project in detail.