Agroamerica participated in the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development: Rio + 20

Guatemala, July 2012. Bernardo Roehrs, Corporate Director at Agroamérica, represented the company at the summit of the United Nations Conference for Sustainable Development which took place in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil last month. The topics discussed included sustainable energy in the context of sustainable development and the eradication of poverty.

Mr. Roehrs spoke about the techniques the company uses in the growing of bananas, pineapples, and palm oil to conserve water and use less water. He described a machine the company uses to take measurements in the soil and how it can also be used to apply water exactly where it is needed and, therefore, not use more than is necessary. With this technology the company has seen a 20% savings in their energy use and has also been able to prevent nutrients in the soil from running off into the rivers. Roehrs said the company works diligently to share information and their own experiences with their neighbors in Central America.

During the summit, a number of topics were discussed such as the eradication of poverty; providing the latest technology to developing countries; different approaches, outlooks, models, and tools available to countries to reach sustainable development; government commitment to minimizing the deleterious effects of climate changes; and Millennium Development Goals, among others.

The conference was attended by world leaders, participants from the private sector, civil society organizations, and other groups, all with the same goals: to reduce poverty, advance social equality, and ensure environmental protection on the planet. “It’s a historic opportunity to define the pathways to a sustainable future: a future with more jobs, cleaner energy, better security, and a decent standard of living for all,” stated the organizers of the event.

Mr. Roehrs said he hopes the negotiators and the heads of state who will be discussing sustainability over the next few days will begin to work with the public sector, as well as the NGOs, the general public, and the media to help spread the message about sustainable development. He said if this happens, more people would be concerned about sustainability, driving more companies to invest in this area.

“In Agroamérica, we have social programs that focus on the needs of our people, the conservation of natural resources, community development, and sustainable production based on ethical standards,” emphasized Mr. Roehrs. “The company is concerned with future generations and is aware of these issues because there will always be new challenges which pose serious threats to sustainable development in the country,” concluded Mr. Roehrs.

Highlights of the interview with Bernardo Roehrs in the Rio+20 Summit:

http://www.rtcc.org/climate-change-tv/rio20-raising-public-awareness-to-drive-sustainability/

http://www.rtcc.org/climate-change-tv/rio20-conserving-water-with-agroamerica/