Pernod Ricard dedicated to preserving marine environment

Patricia Ricard holds a sea urchin at the Paul Ricard Oceanographic Institute on the island of Embiez, France. The institute, set up by Paul Ricard, the founder of French liquor maker Pernod Ricard, has been conducting academic research and civil campaigns to preserve the world’s marine environment. / Courtesy of Pernod Ricard

By Lee Hyo-sik

French liquor maker Pernod Ricard has been mobilizing resources over the years to help preserve the world’s marine environment, honoring the spirit of its founder, Paul Ricard.

Ricard set up a research institute in 1966, which later became the Paul Ricard Oceanographic Institute. The organization, on Island of Embiez, off the southern coast of France in the Mediterranean Sea, is headed by his granddaughter, Patricia Ricard, who recently visited Korea to form a stronger partnership with universities and other academic organizations here dedicated to protecting the ocean.

In an interview with The Korea Times, Ricard said the institute has been studying how man-made pollution has affected the marine environment and what needs to be done to preserve it and achieve sustainable development. She also expressed hopes of strengthening the partnership with the Korea Maritime and Ocean University and other Korean research bodies.

“I came to Korea this time on an invitation from Korea Maritime and Ocean University (KMOU) in Busan, which celebrates its 70th anniversary this year,” Ricard said. “I would like to know what the university is doing to preserve marine lives and find ways to strengthen cooperation with it.”

The Paul Ricard Oceanographic Institute and KMOU have been implementing a joint project to protect the maritime environment off the coast of Busan since 2013. The two have held lectures for Busan citizens to raise public awareness of the importance of protecting the marine environment.

They have also been running an education program over the past three years, producing nearly 500 maritime ecosystem “experts,” while regularly organizing events to collect garbage on the shore and emphasize the seriousness of environmental pollution among citizens.

“We have been reckless exploiting the ocean over the years,” Ricard said. “As a result, it has become seriously polluted to the point where we have to do something to avert the trend. That is what the Paul Ricard Oceanographic Institute is doing. We have been doing lots of research to find effective ways of purifying water pollution. This is the responsibility of the whole of society.”

She said in line with economic progress, protecting the environment has become a major concern, stressing that this is why her grandfather established the institute.

“My grandfather campaigned against pollution due to a case of industrial pollution in the Mediterranean Sea called the ‘red mud,’ which was discharged off the coast of the town of Cassis in Southern France,” Ricard said. “I am honored to continue his legacy and will do my best to realize his dreams.”

The Paul Ricard Oceanographic Institute has been implementing projects with other research organizations around the globe, according to Ricard, who said she will focus more on launching a campaign to raise public awareness of the importance of protecting the maritime environment.

Besides maritime preservation efforts, Pernod Ricard has been devoting substantial resources to a wide range of community programs. The company has been running programs to empower the underprivileged and promoting responsible drinking among young adults.