Sustainable Farming Methods
What exactly is sustainability?
We strive every day to meet the standards required for sustainable farming methods. This means we must reconcile competitiveness and profitability with stewardship of the environment and care for our workers and their communities.
“Sustainability is based on a simple principle: Everything that we need for our survival and well-being depends, either directly or indirectly, on our natural environment. Sustainability creates and maintains the conditions under which humans and nature can exist in productive harmony. These conditions permit fulfilling the social, economic and other requirements of present and future generations.” United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Our People
From inception, the well-being and development of our employees, their families and their communities has always been a vital part of our commitment to sustainable framing methods. They are our top priority. AgroAmerica is the first Guatemalan company to have conducted research into the concept of a Living Wage in order to pay its workers a fair and proper salary, thereby promoting their welfare and that of everyone else around them. Learn more about our CSR programs for our people
Carbon Print
We have estimated the carbon print released by the production of bananas in Guatemala and compared it to other regions and countries. The data was obtained through an independent and specialized entity. Guatemalan independent banana producers have the lowest carbon print per banana produced.
Use of Chemicals
In 2015 we signed an MOU with WWF to improve our sustainable agriculture practices and reduce the use of agrochemicals. Currently we have reduced this by 26%. The company has also partnered with a private, non-profit Guatemalan organization – Agrequima – that advocates the proper use of fertilizers and other agro-chemicals used in the fields. Agrequima conducts training sessions for our workers who handle chemical products. Topics include: product selection, color labeling identification and toxicity, the proper handling and disposal of empty chemical product containers, the maintenance of application equipment, the proper use of protective equipment, the right procedure for mixing chemicals, etc.
Sustainable Certifications
We have global certifications that audit our compliance with environmental, labor and social sustainability standards on a regular schedule. We communicate the results of audits and our CSR programs on our website and social networks.
We have an ethics line for complaints and invite groups from all sectors (trade unionists, government, universities, international organizations, etc.) to visit our operations at AgroAmerica.
Members of the World Banana Forum -WBF
This groundbreaking initiative brings together producers, their organizations, trade unions, cooperatives, exporter groups, fresh produce companies, retailers, traders, public agencies, governments, research institutions and civil society organizations involved in the banana industry.
The World Banana Forum is a permanent space of assembly for participants representing the global banana supply chain to promote open dialogue on challenges facing the banana industry.
The Mission of the World Banana Forum is to inspire collaboration between stakeholders that produces pragmatic outcomes for the betterment of the banana industry. It aims to achieve an industry-wide consensus of best practices regarding sustainable farming methods, workplace issues, gender equity, environmental impact, sustainable production and economic issues.
Members of Business for Social Responsibility –BSR–
We are members of BSR, which helps companies obtain sustainable business strategies and provides solutions through consulting, research and cross-sector cooperation.
Members of CentraRSE
We are members of CentraRSE (Center for Corporate Social Responsibility Practices in Guatemala). The objective of this organization is to generate an attitude of change among the companies that operate in the country so that they will consciously implement Corporate Social Responsibility –CSR-.