My role at Natural Habitats is to ensure we do palm right and show that when done right, palm oil can bring tremendous benefits for farmers and markets.
We ensure that the farmers we work with produce palm oil according to organic and sustainable practices. We train and support farmers to comply to the standards of the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO), Organic, Fair for Life and .
The Natural Habitats Team is a seasoned team of professionals in scaling businesses and leading sustainable systems. Operating across four continents, four time zones and communicating in multiple languages, the Natural Habitats Team is a global organization aligned around a common vision of proving palm can be grown for good.
Alfons is both strong operator and entrepreneur. He has an excellent track record in strategic and business turnarounds, combined with strict financial management. He is confident and successful amongst many different cultures, having lived and worked in Holland, UK and Middle East, and managed global operations (North America, Europe and Asia).
Fernando is one of the firsts employees of Natural Habitats. He is now the Country Manager of Ecuador. He brings to Natural Habitats more than 20 years of international experience in banking and business development. Fernando is responsible for generating and prioritising a flow of innovative opportunities of high potential interest to the Ecuadorian operation in current core business areas, strategic partnerships and new potential markets. He is also responsible for all added value, strategic operations, and exports. His project management, finance, and venture capital knowledge together with his strong communications skills allows him to identify optimal deal structures, participate in deal negotiations, and steer deals through approval processes and to closure. He is an Ecuadorian and Spanish national who has lived and work in different continents for several years, making him knowledgeable of different cultural organisational styles; allowing him to convert cultural differences in business opportunities.
Joining the organization in June 2017, Isabel has diverse human resource and management experience specializing in start-ups to mid-size organizations. Her broad experience includes HR infrastructure and workflow development, talent acquisition and management, employee relations, performance management, training and development and policy design.
As part of the Natural Habitats team, my role is deeply rooted in engaging our brand, retail and community partners with the Palm Done Right mission. I am here to help our partners and buyers change the conversation about palm oil. When grown organically, without deforestation, palm oil can be grown for good – for the people and the planet.
Co Founder of Horizon Organic Dairy,
Aurora Organic Dairy, and Alfalfa’s Markets
Mr. Retzloff is a pioneer in the organic and natural foods industry with a 48-year career starting and managing successful companies. He is co-founder and chairman of Alfalfa’s Markets, Boulder-based natural foods stores. He also co-founded Aurora Organic Dairy in 2003, and currently acts as a senior advisor to the company. He was the University of Michigan’s School of Natural Resource and Environment Practitioner in Residence for 2014/2015 and 2015/2016. He is former senior partner of the Boulder Farm Team consulting firm which works with companies in the Natural, Organic, Local and Sustainable food and sector. He is also Chairman of the Board of Natural Habitats Group, a Netherlands based, fully integrated leader in organic sustainable palm oil production, processing, and distribution.
