Sesame

Olam is the world’s leading supplier of sesame

Thanks to our extensive origin and processing footprint, our breadth and depth means we can provide up-to-date market information, pricing and a stable supply. We drive international food safety standards across both farming and processing operations.

Get in touch with our Sesame team

sesame@olamnet.com

We produce natural sesame for use in oil crushing, sortex and sesame powder as well as hulled sesame for commercial baking and condiments. We source from small- and large-scale sesame farmers in all main producing countries, focusing on traceable tonnage. The seeds pass our stringent quality parameters before they are accepted into our system. We work directly with farmers to improve yields, quality and incomes.

In Nigeria and Turkey, we have state-of-the-art facilities where we process sesame and related products, such as tahini, in line with customer requirements. Our stringent standards mean we are a leading supplier to Japan, the most demanding market as regards food safety standards.

Together with offices in our sesame origins and processing facilities, we also maintain marketing offices in China, Dubai, Singapore, Rotterdam, India, Turkey and the USA, allowing us to deliver comprehensive service to our customers.

Sourcing

Although sesame is usually grown in Asian and Latin American countries, Africa accounts for about a third of the global sesame production and contributes about 70% to the global trade, a share that continues to grow.

We are based in all of the big sesame-producing areas where we buy seeds from small-scale and large-scale farmers, cooperatives and a huge range of collectors. Our network ensures that we are the most cost-effective and quality buyer, communicating directly with farmers to ensure good quality output. Through the Olam Livelihood Charter and by establishing strategic partnership between stakeholders such as government agencies, NGOs, and the wider farming community we help facilitate the flow of information, knowledge and technology to improve yields, quality and incomes.

We have procurement offices in Burkina Faso, India, Mali, Mozambique, Nigeria, Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda. In addition, we also have representatives and agents in other origins including Ethiopia.

Processing

In most of the locations where we operate, sesame seeds are harvested manually and separated from their husks using traditional means. Seeds produced this way can contain impurities, so we have set up primary cleaning centres.

This investment allows us to assure our buyers that they are guaranteed clean sesame for use in their applications. For applications that require a hulled or edible grade sesame, we have set up processing plants in the sesame-growing countries. The product from these plants are ready to be used as ingredients in kitchens and bakeries.

We have also established tailor-made training programmes for our technicians to conduct product testing in-house. We have an in-house Aflatoxin testing facility in Africa, which is a rare in the industry and offers further assurance to our customers through our rigorous safety and quality protocols.

Click Here to Learn More