Terres d'Agroécologie and its e-market platform
Terres d'Agroécologie is a movement supporting the agroecological transition in Mauritius. The means employed are as follows
- Supporting farmers through training and advice in agroecology.
- Labeling farms to recognize the agroecological quality of their practices.
- Bringing together agricultural project leaders and landowners.
- Facilitate the sale of agroecological products.
- Raise awareness among consumers and public and private decision-makers of the need to change their purchasing practices.
Supported by an association of the same name, Terres d'Agroécologie provides farmers and consumers with an e-market platform dedicated to promoting agroecological products.
Thanks to the e-market platform, the connection is made directly between farmers and consumers, providing simplified access to healthy, local and ecofriendly products (see below).
Our guarantee for agroecological products
At Terres d'Agroécologie, we are committed to offering you agricultural products from farms that do not use synthetic chemical inputs. Our approach is based on rigorously controlled practices that comply with agroecological standards.
Here's how we guarantee this quality:
- No pesticides, herbicides or fertilizers from synthetic chemistry are authorized by the Terres d'Agroécologie label.
- Audits are carried out on farms to verify compliance with agroecological practices.
- Training and advice are provided to farmers in our network.
We firmly believe that this approach contributes to a more ecofriendly agriculture, pursuing the social and economic success of farmers, while offering you healthy, seasonal produce at affordable prices.
How do farms join the Terres d'Agroécologie label?
The Terres d'Agroécologie association has set up a rigorous process to guarantee the quality of agroecological practices on farms. Here are the key steps of the process:
- An initial audit consisting of a visit to discover the farm, farming practices and management activities, while identifying areas for continuous improvement:
- A 100-point rating to assess compliance with agroecological practices, with eliminatory criteria to maintain the same quality between farms.
- Corrective actions, accompanied by training and advice, to help farmers comply with requirements.
- A final audit, including analysis of water and soil samples, to award the Terres d'Agroécologie label.
Note: aesthetics is no criterion in our label!
We would also like to emphasize that agroecology favors local, seasonal vegetables that may be visually imperfect (like a twisted carrot or a lettuce leaf with some holes in it), but are always healthy and incomparably tasty.
Responsibilities
1. Responsibilities of the e-market platform
Our e-market platform plays an essential role in supporting and empowering farmers and their agricultural businesses. Firstly, it serves to improve and increase the visibility and value of their products. By showcasing their harvests on the e-market, farmers can reach a wider consumer base and gain recognition for their hard work and products derived from agroecological practices.
What's more, our platform seeks to reduce the distance between farmers and consumers, fostering a sense of proximity and connection. Thanks to this connection, consumers can interact with farmers, learn more about their practices and gain a deeper understanding of the products they buy. This not only creates a more transparent and trustworthy relationship, but also enables a more personalized shopping experience.
The e-market platform aims to simplify the process of purchasing local agroecological products. By accessing a centralized platform, consumers can easily find products that meet their preferences and values. This eliminates the need to search multiple sites, saving time. What's more, our platform guarantees that all products listed come from farms that respect agroecological standards; in order to support sustainable farming practices and contribute to a healthier, more ecofriendly food system.
2. Responsibilities of the farmer
On the e-market platform, farmers have a range of important responsibilities to ensure customer satisfaction. Firstly, they are responsible for: putting their products online and the prices at which they wish to sell them, packaging their products, and delivering them to relay points for collection by customers. In addition, producers have a duty to maintain quality, guaranteeing they meet the specifications of the Terres d'Agroécologie label. They will also have to sign a charter of membership to Terres d'Agroécologie.
In terms of delivery, farmers must assume responsibility for selecting reliable shipping methods and ensuring that orders are dispatched promptly. In addition, farmers have a responsibility to consider the cultural sensitivities of their target audience during the production process. This includes respecting various traditions, customs and beliefs, and avoiding any culturally insensitive content or practices.
Getting a fair and reasonable price for their products is another key responsibility of farmers on the e-market platform. They must ensure that the price reflects the quality, value and uniqueness of their offer. Any pricing strategies that mislead or deceive customers must be avoided.
In the event that a customer expresses dissatisfaction with a product or service, it is the farmer's responsibility to resolve the problem promptly and courteously. Farmers should carefully consider customers' requests, giving due consideration to their concerns. They should then take appropriate action to rectify the problem and provide a solution that matches the level of customer dissatisfaction. Effective communication in English or French is important to express a polite gesture and resolve any problems that arise.
The farmer is committed to offering products in compliance with basic sanitary rules for product delivery. Each consumer should receive an order that corresponds to his or her shopping basket. The farmer ensures the proper distribution of products and guarantees the quality of the packaging used. What's more, each order delivered should have the basket code clearly displayed.
Overall, farmers on the e-market platform have many responsibilities, including product quality, packaging, delivery, fair prices and customer satisfaction. By diligently fulfilling these responsibilities, farmers can foster trust and loyalty among their customers, leading to a thriving community.
3. Responsibilities of the customer
The responsibilities of customers on the e-market platform include the act of purchasing and the collection of purchases, particularly as they are perishable goods. This involves adhering to communicated schedules and locations for product collection. In addition, customers are encouraged to bring reusable bags or containers to collect their purchased items. However, if a customer does not have a bag, they can buy one on the e-market platform and use it for their next order. Taking these steps not only helps to reduce waste and preserve product quality, but also demonstrates the customer's commitment to acting responsibly.
Paid orders are non-refundable but can be transferred to a future purchase by means of a specific procedure. To do so, the customer will need to obtain a reference code different from the initial basket code.
It is important to note that the quality recognized by Terres D'Agroécologie relates to agricultural practices on the farm and not to the final quality of the products offered for sale. In the event of dissatisfaction, customers should contact the farmer directly, who will then inform the platform.
In the event of a problem concerning:
- Choice of products, farmers, collection points.
- Choice of specific vegetables and quantities.
- Delivery date and location.
- Online payment.
- Ordered basket or confirmation e-mail with basket code.
Further assistance is provided by the service team on +230 5253 0575.
In the event of an order cancellation, customers will receive a code that can be used for a future order. It is important to note that any cancellation must be made 24 hours before the delivery date or the order will be considered delivered.