PORTFOLIO BY SECTOR

Terrafertil, S.A.

www.terra-fertil.com

Established in March 2005, Terrafertil is one of the first companies to commercialize new value-added products from Ecuador’s abundant fruit supply.  The company processes and markets dehydrated organic and conventional tropical fruits, such as bananas, mangos, papayas, and gooseberries. 

One of the company’s objectives is to enable families to generate income and improve their livelihoods by becoming suppliers to Terrafertil.  To help achieve this, the company has initiated a program to collaborate with the local community on environmental training to reduce pesticide use for local agriculture.  In addition, Terrafertil pays its employees wages that are 70 percent higher than those of the flower industry. 

Terrafertil is located in the buffer zone of several biological reserves, including the Reserva Ecologica Cayambe-Coca, home to 900 species of birds, 110 amphibians, 140 reptiles, and over 200 mammals.  Terrafertil’s efforts provide an alternative to the main commercial activity, conventional flower production, which compromises the region’s environmental integrity given the intense use of pesticides.  The Nature Conservancy in Ecuador endorses sustainable development projects like Terrafertil to help protect the surrounding ecosystems.   

The company has obtained organic certification from Ecuador-based BCS (BCS Öko-Garantie GmbH) (www.bcsecuador.com) and is seeking fair-trade and kosher certifications as well.  Terrafertil exports to Forest Feast in Ireland and Tropical Valley Foods and Brothers International in the U.S.  Locally, Terrafertil sells its dried products under two brand names, Neu and Amerifruit, at Supermaxi, Ecuador’s largest supermarket chain.  Terrafertil is diversifying into higher-margined items, such as ready-to-go vegetable and salad products for high-end consumers in the local Ecuadorian market. 

EcoEnterprises Fund co-financed this investment with the project principals.

Investing in companies. Investing in communities. Investing in conservation.

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