Rows of jasmine flowers are seen before harvest where they will be used for the perfume industry in Grasse, October 15, 2011. From crocodile farms to rose fields, suppliers of luxury material have become top acquisition targets for names like LVMH and Gucci owner Kering as they race to lock in rare skills and ingredients vital to their brands' survival. In the cosmetics world, Dior, Chanel and Hermes have been forging exclusive partnerships with plant growers to guarantee raw material supplies. To match story LUXURY-SUPPLYCHAIN. Picture taken October 15, 2011 REUTERS/Jean-Pierre Amet (FRANCE - Tags: BUSINESS)