Mane Kancor

Our transformative initiatives in sustainable mint cultivation were recognised and awarded at the IFEAT 2025 Sustainability Awards. This honour followed a rigorous two-step evaluation process that included a structured pre-selection by an independent sustainability consultancy and an in-depth review by an expert panel.

At the heart of this achievement is our pioneering work with the Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (CIMAP), where we introduced Early Mint Technology (EMT) to address water scarcity and improve farming efficiency. By planting along ridges and irrigating through furrows, EMT reduces irrigation requirements by nearly 30%, lowers diesel pump usage, and cuts greenhouse gas emissions by 37%, while simultaneously improving crop productivity and farmer incomes. Complementary initiatives like Soil Testing, Integrated Nutrient and Pest Management, Intercropping, and Agroforestry have further enhanced biodiversity, resilience, and sustainability across more than 6,500 hectares, benefiting over 6,000 farmers.

The project also empowers farming communities through transparency and fair pricing. Mane Kancor’s Traceability Purchase Record System (TPRS) geo-tags farms, tracks farming practices, and provides traceability records. We guarantee Minimum Support Prices (30–40% above market rates) to the farmers who are a part of this programme. Local distillation units have been upgraded with efficient condensers, cooling towers, and stainless-steel separators, boosting mint oil extraction yield by 15%, reducing water use by ~50%, and boosting incomes for rural entrepreneurs.

We have been awarded the Second Prize in the Large Companies Category (>250 employees) at the IFEAT 2025 Sustainability Awards. The award was presented by the Chair of IFEAT, Dr. Geemon Korah (CEO & Executive Director, Mane Kancor) and IFEAT Executive Committee member, Mr. Eduardo Mattoso (Director – KAAPI Ingredients) to Mr. Kamal Rangan (Head of Essential Oils Division, Mane Kancor). 

This recognition from IFEAT underscores our long-standing commitment to sustainable sourcing, farmer empowerment and traceability at the source. At Mane Kancor, we believe innovation and responsibility must go hand in hand, creating ingredient solutions where science, nature, and sustainability converge.

Podcast on Mint Sustainability: