How Sustainable Palm Oil Fights Poverty in Guatemala

Guatemala is working hard to improve the economy and conditions in the country. According to the World Bank, it’s now one of the strongest economic performers in Latin America and the biggest economy in Central America. However, it also has one of the highest inequality rates in Latin America. There is still much to be done to close the gap between the have’s and the have not’s.
Palm oil cultivation and production can aid social and economic development, as long as it is done in a sustainable and responsible manner. The Round Table on Sustainable Palm Oil, (RSPO) a body that inspects, monitors and certifies palm oil producers as sustainable, recently released figures on how sustainable palm oil has contributed to the preservation of forests and development of communities alleviating poverty around the world:
· Indigenous and forest communities have earned $130,573,000 as a direct result of the RSPO certified sustainable palm oil program
· Sustainable farming and processing practices make it possible for current generations to make ends meet without compromising the future generations.
· 1,311,001farms are now certified sustainable palm oil producers and are designed to protect ecosystems, workers and local communities
· 103,966,028 acres (42,073,559 ha) of land are under sustainable management
That’s a big dent in the problem.
One company takes both sustainability and alleviating poverty in the region very seriously is AgroAmerica. Their palm oil plantations and processing plants are in Central America and one of our companies, AgroCaribe, is the fourth in the world to be awarded an Identity Preserved RSPO certification. That means AgroAmerica guarantees full trace-ability from planting to shipment. It is also the fifth company to obtain the RSPO sustainable certification in Latin America and the first one in Central America.
Palm oil is a relatively new crop in Latin America and it provides opportunities for local agricultural workers and farmers. To be sustainable and provide income and growth for these communities into the future, it must be done in a responsible manner that protects and conserves the environment.
So hats off to AgroAmerica for leading the way. They’re preserving the environment and contributing to the fight against poverty in Latin America.

