Project Partners:
AT THE
FOREFRONT
OF SUSTAINABILITY AND SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY A look at the Guatemalan firm’s banana and vegetable oil production and export operations
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groAmérica leads a sustainable banana and vegetable oil production operation from Guatemala, with presence also in Panama, Peru, Ecuador, the US, Mexico and Europe. As a corporation, AgroAmérica addresses sustainability matters both inwardly via its workforce, and outwardly in its surroundings and production zones. The company was a pioneer in obtaining global certifications such as the one for sustainable practices from the Rainforest Alliance, Global GAP (for best practices in agriculture), BASC (Business Alliance for Secure Commerce), Ok Kosher, C-TPAT (foreign trade), SCS (sustainability), and RSPO (sustainability in palm oil production). Earning these has opened the doors to AgroAmérica to export toward markets in different continents, which demand these standards.
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Other accolades obtained locally include being a runner-up to the 2017 National Exports Award in the farming and fishing sector. Criteria to earn the award (running every three years) include traits such as transformation and innovation. Internationally, AgroAmérica was a runner-up from 249 participants in the Unilever Global Development Award, which recognises companies for having a positive impact in one or more of United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Technology and water Banana and vegetable oil operations at AgroAmérica, which involve production, distribution and sales, are supported by the most advanced technology. Nevertheless, water is essential to fulfil these goals. For this reason, the company’s main investments are for technology applied to water conservation, optimising
irrigation systems which has resulted in 80% savings at banana packaging plants. AgroAmérica’s excellent water management earned the company an invitation to become exhibitors at the First Water Management Forum in Guatemala. The company has also been invited to take part in technical committees for an efficient use of water from rivers, which saw a water systematisation research for the Madre Vieja River paid for by the EU. Safe-hand suppliers AgroAmérica products are exported to important markets such as the US, and also to countries in Latin America and Europe, including the UK. This outreach demands careful, timely merchandise management, as high quality perishable goods require. Shipping companies play a strategic role in the supply chain, working with the same dedication as AgroAmérica’s own sea freight
company, which works exclusively for the company and its clients. Companies shipping for AgroAmérica – as well as those required for other duties – must comply with the same standards as AgroAmérica does in areas such as sustainability, production processes and care for the environment, among others. Satisfying the demand for organic products Today’s consumer has evolved to demand a detail-oriented analysis of every ingredient in his or her food. Striving to offer the best products, aligned with sustainable production practices, AgroAmérica began producing organic bananas in Peru’s Piura desert, a place with ideal weather conditions to grow organic products. Growing organic bananas became a constant learning process, leading to a new production model.
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Tangible support for every worker AgroAmérica rewards its working force with more benefits than required by law, and boasts the “Deserving Salary” programme. Internal promotion is also a regular practice at every level, mostly in field operations, opening up real growth opportunities to employees. Workers splitting time to finish any educational commitments not only have flexible schedules but are also helped with transportation to attend their classes. Education
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incentives extend to workers’ families, as their children can be enrolled in the company’s own school. The company also opened a cooperative bank for its staff and built a human development centre for employees, their families and neighbour communities. The centre includes a healthcare establishment offering excellent services at very affordable prices. The company established a partnership with the University of Colorado (US), obtaining help from the college’s medical staff and programmes
focused on child nutrition. Corporate social responsibility AgroAmérica takes part in many local and international programmes related to its products’ quality and also related to its immediate surroundings, the biosphere, and other entities. These are some of the most important programmes and CSR partnerships: SOLIDARIDAD AND GUATEMALA MARN (Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources):
Cooperation agreement with the goal of protecting the environment within the Bonn Challenge initiative, seeking to improve land’s productivity, conserve species and combat desertification. ECOLOGIC: Agroforestry project of the EcoLogic Development Fund. IGSS (Guatemala Social Security Institute): The agreement with IGSS guarantees medication distribution to the company’s medical centre, in Southwest Guatemala, open
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“WATER IS ESSENTIAL TO FULFIL OUR GOALS. AGROAMÉRICA’S MAIN INVESTMENTS ARE FOR TECHNOLOGY APPLIED TO WATER CONSERVATION” – Bernhard Roehrs, Corporate Director for AgroAmérica
for company employees, saving them time and bus money to get to IGSS facilities. ICC (Climate Change Institute): With help from ICC and COCODE (Community Development Committee), AgroAmérica workers on Guatemala’s southern coast. Local communities worked to reforest a piece of land with conservation purposes, using only native species. WWF (World Wildlife Fund): The partnership with the fund consists of introducing better practices for a
sustainable use of resources. WWF installed a weather station in one of AgroAmerica’s plantations to develop a model for controlling tsigatoka disease. The Fund trained AgroAmérica’s workers and banana growers from the area, providing advanced techniques to control this disease. UNO: AgroAmérica’s CSR programmes are aligned with the United Nations’ SDGs, resulting in establishing relationships with more than 1,500 local and international
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The “Productivity Award” is earned by AgroAmérica’s workers whose effort reaches the highest excellence levels
“BEING GLOBALLY CERTIFIED IS A RESULT OF THE EFFORTS PUT TOGETHER IN FARMING, LABOUR, SOCIAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL PRACTICES CARRIED OUT IN A RESPONSIBLE, SUSTAINABLE WAY, ENABLING US TO EXPORT TO MARKETS IN DIFFERENT CONTINENTS” – Fernando Bolaños, CEO for AgroAmérica
organisations, such as municipalities, community leaders, NGOs, schools, government agencies, and embassies, among others. “One banana a day improves your life�: This programme consists of banana donations to participating schools during an entire academic year along with health and nutrition tips.
Other efforts in this area include distributing filters to neighbouring communities to ensure their access to drinking water. Responsible practices and social programmes guarantee a sustainable production, helping AgroAmĂŠrica earn trust from the community and other entities, which also results in increased growth in foreign markets.
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Centro Gerencial Las Margaritas Diagonal 6, 1 0-65 Zona 10, Torre 1, nivel 18, Guatemala Departamento de Guatemala Guatemala, 1010 Tel. +502 2285-4100 agroamerica.com