The Fragrant Crisis: Why the World's Frankincense Supply is at Risk

Frankincense is a deeply historical commodity that has become a massive staple in the modern wellness industry, but its natural source is currently facing severe ecological and economic threats.

Here is a breakdown of why the frankincense supply is in jeopardy and what is being done to save it:

The Core Threats

• Unsustainable Harvesting: Economic pressures force many harvesters to over-tap Boswellia trees, causing severe damage that can take over a decade to heal.

• Environmental Challenges: Climate change, destructive beetle outbreaks, and livestock grazing are stunting the natural regeneration of these trees across the Horn of Africa.

• Unfair Supply Chains: Harvesters at the bottom of the supply chain receive a mere fraction of the product's final retail value, leaving them vulnerable to poverty and exploitation by middlemen.

• Future Decline: Due to these compounding factors, research suggests that global frankincense production could be slashed in half over the next twenty years.

Promising Solutions

• Technological Traceability: Exporters are now utilizing mobile apps to track the resin from individual, geotagged trees all the way to the final buyer.

• Direct Compensation: These tracking systems allow harvesters to prove sustainable practices and receive fair, direct payments via mobile wallets.

• Education and Cultivation: Programs are actively training harvesters in climate adaptation and tree care, while experts suggest that large-scale cultivation could help stabilize the species.

• Institutional Influence: Major historical consumers, such as the Catholic Church, possess the outsized influence needed to drive market demand toward ethically sourced and sustainable frankincense.

To read the full article on the BBC click here