TEIKEI Manifesto 20230

What is our vision to be reached in the year 2030?

  1. Until 2030, all actors directly contributing to the existence of our food supply chain will function without the need for fossil fuels and its by-products. The energy demand for operations in each field will be covered directly and locally. The fields are defined as:
    • Cultivation and production/processing of food
    • Packaging and transporting of food
    • Distribution of food
  1. Waste management / waste prevention
    • Waste management starts from prevention and implementing circular systems on a local basis
    • By 2030, we aim to eliminate waste as understood in the traditional sense (waste that goes to landfill/incineration)
    • Our products will be packed and distributed in refillable containers
    • Our single-use (tertiary) packaging material will be produced from locally renewable resources and can be home-composted
  1. Regenerative Agriculture
    • By 2030, all our farmers will operate according to the principles of regenerative agriculture, performing at Level 3 of our regenerative agricultural roadmap
    • New farms that are still industrial will be inspired and motivated to join the regenerative agricultural movement, starting from Level 0 and reaching Level 3
  1. Circular, shared risk economy for the common good
    • We believe in circular and shared risk economic approaches. We are building networks owned by those running them and transitioning from single-owned structures to participatory-organized structures. Our non-profit organization cannot be owned by a single person nor sold for profit. The risk is shared among all partners and actors. The organization remains in the hands of the participants for as long as they run it.

What is the TEIKEI organization committed to (to reach the vision 2030)?

TEIKEI is dedicated to the following points:

  1. Development and implementation of the scientific term of “True Cost Accounting”* into our bookkeeping.
  2. We support Fair Trade, ensuring that all parties involved in our project receive the exact amount needed to support their projects sustainably and reach our vision. We are committed to communicating price developments transparently throughout our network.
  3. The most important part of Fair Trade is transparency. We consider it our responsibility to collect and provide information about:
    • The organizational structure
    • Price development
    • Quality measurements of the product/project/processes
    • Work situations in different work fields
  1. We dedicate our time to personally know all our farmers and buyers, keeping communication alive. Where meeting in person isn’t possible, we maintain direct communication.
  2. We maintain a neutral position towards both producers and buyers, presenting their work to all project participants and facilitating connections where enriching collaborations arise. We only step into a coordination role when needed.
  3. We commit to moving beyond “market competition,” as it only serves one greater purpose: to help us find better, more sustainable ways of organizing. We need better soil, more biodiversity, secondary plant substances in food, balanced risk-sharing, transparent communication, innovative logistics, circular packaging systems, and a deep understanding of each other’s needs.
  4. We welcome competition as inspiration. It motivates us to improve and aligns with our vision for 2030.
  5. We work to motivate small-scale farmers to transition from industrial farming to “Regenerative Farms”.
  6. We commit to making small-scale farming an attractive, innovative source of income for current and future generations, helping to sustain the healthiest form of agriculture and revitalize this sector.
  7. We develop markets for smallholder farmers to implement sustainable agricultural practices, ensuring these farming communities can earn a living.
  8. We improve sustainability in the market and support expansion toward this goal.
  9. We implement evidence-based quality management, defining “regenerative” through measurable factors such as soil fertility, microorganism content, and biodiversity.
  10. We support food and supply chain sovereignty, striving for independence from subsidies. Subsidies are seen as catalysts but not relied upon in the long term.
  11. We understand local and seasonal food production as the base for communities, respecting cultural impacts. Products are only transported elsewhere when they can’t be produced locally or when the social, environmental, and cultural benefits outweigh the negative impact of transportation.
  12. We commit to a healthy organization size, making our efforts affordable in the market. Once our ideal size is reached, we will shift from growth to qualitative subsistence.

*True Cost Accounting is a new type of bookkeeping that includes the impacts on natural and social capital in monetary terms, making externalized “hidden costs” visible and internalized.

What are our shoppers committed to?

Our shoppers support TEIKEI’s vision for 2030. They also commit to the following:

  1. Supporting waste-free business models, such as reusable packaging systems and eco-friendly transportation, aiming to avoid fossil energy sources.
  2. Cultivating healthy relationships with producers and traders, sharing the stories behind each product, and maintaining direct communication.
  3. Supporting true cost pricing at all levels, especially for farmers, to ensure sustainable agriculture continues for future generations.
  4. Prioritizing handcraft, respecting seasonal and natural fluctuations in quantity, appearance, and taste, and favoring unprocessed foods.
  5. Aiming to cover the real/true cost of products, ensuring independence from subsidies.
  6. Understanding and supporting the risks farmers face during cultivation.
  7. Realizing that solving environmental issues in the food chain requires supporting the entire supply chain beyond packaging and logistics.

What are organic farmers committed to?

Our farmers support TEIKEI’s vision for 2030 and commit to the following:

  1. Shifting from “feeding the plant” to “feeding the soil”.
  2. Committing to organic agriculture principles without external certification, using only locally produced fertilizers and natural pesticides when necessary.
  3. Adopting innovative agricultural practices, combining smart technologies and “do nothing” approaches when beneficial. Large machines are only used when handwork or low/mid technologies are insufficient.
  4. Implementing regenerative agricultural methods by 2030 to maintain healthy soils and soil fauna.
  5. Striving for the highest quality of food, rich in secondary plant substances.
  6. Using gentle processes during cultivation and processing to preserve valuable ingredients.
  7. Ensuring their income supports their families and communities through cooperation, never sacrificing health or the environment for profit.
  8. Providing access to their business plans and pricing structures.
  9. Aiming for zero use of diesel and plastic materials in production by 2030.
  10. Supporting community-based food production, only exporting excess production.

*At the ecosystem level, regenerative farms create suitable habitats for wild species by avoiding harsh chemicals and pesticides.

What are our service and material providers committed to?

Our providers support TEIKEI’s vision for 2030 and guarantee the following:

  1. Providing information about price structure and its development.
  2. Being transparent about the origin of raw materials and labor conditions.
  3. Sharing information about waste management and production byproducts.
  4. Supporting TEIKEI’s mission of transparency by providing access to necessary information.