Andean Biotrade Project promoted more than 20 export chains in Peru

The Andean Biotrade Project ends this year with more than 10,794 beneficiaries in Peru, and over USD 78 million resulting from sales of products derived from the biodiversity. The project was executed by Promperu, with the support of CAF, Development Bank of Latin America, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and The Global Environment Facility (GEF).

The closing of the program included the participation of Magali Silva, Minister of Foreign Trade and Tourism (Mincetur, for its acronym in Spanish); Manuel Pulgar-Vidal, Minister of the Environment; Ligia Castro, CAF's Director of the Environment, and Robert Erath, Officer of the UNEP-GEF Program.

Minister Magali Silva stated, "This project started in 2011 to contribute to the sustainable development of goods and services derived from the biodiversity, promoting a fair and equitable distribution of the benefits for all those involved. It has been a valuable experience, as it represented an alternative vision for development in many regions of the country, as it is aimed at preserving biodiversity by adapting to the dynamics of the markets. This allows for a reduction of the levels of poverty through a distribution of the benefits". 

The Minister added that this project enabled to establish the Biotrade approach on tools and products to develop capacities and company management, to help economic and social environmental sustainability. 

At the same time, Ligia Castro ratified CAF's commitment to continue providing support for the registry of patents of products derived from the biodiversity. She added, " For the future, fair agreements must be sought with medium and larger-sized companies that enable the export of products, in order to encourage a favorable scenario for the promotion of biodiversity businesses with sustainability practices". 

The project was executed by Promperu in alliance with the Ministry of the Environment, in the framework of the National Program for the Promotion of Biotrade, supported by CAF, GEF and UNEP. Work was carried out with 20 value chains in 15 regions of the country (Piura, Cajamarca, La Libertad, Huanuco, Junin, Huancavelica, Ayacucho, Arequipa, Puno, Cusco, Madre de Dios, San Martin, Loreto, Amazonas and Lima), which allowed for the identification of and direct impact on 65 initiatives.  

In addition, the project supported the development and trade of at least 22 products such as cacao, aguaymanto (South American Andean fruit), eggfruit, quinoa, native potato, tara, sacha inchi, chestnut, gastronomy, and ecotourism, among others. 

Companies received technical assistance and training for the sustainable use of resources, and support will be provided so that they can implement environmental sustainability standards and practices. Of all the companies that received support, 37 have already participated in platforms that promote exports, such as Peru Natura y Mistura (Peru), Biofach, and Anuga (Germany). In Cosmetics, Natural Expo West and Fancy Food (United States), Gulfood (United Arab Emirates), Sial Paris (France) and Sial Canada, among others.

During the period of execution, the Andean Biotrade Project invested USD 2 million in an area of 31,273 hectares, benefitting 10,794 people with exports reaching USD 78 million.  

Between January and October of 2014, exports of Peruvian products derived from Biotrade reached USD 351.6 million, representing an increase of 60.1% with respect to the same period in 2013. The main products exported were quinoa, cochinilla, tara, and giant corn. Destination markets reached 103, where the largest buyers were the United States, Canada, and China. 

In the framework of the closing ceremony, some successful companies were granted awards: Algarrobos Organicos, in the region of Piura, whose emblematic products are eggfruit, algarrobo, quinoa, maca, and aguaymato, among others, winning the Economic Sustainability category; Ultimate Voyage, in the reserve of Chaparri, region of Lambayeque, dedicated to ecotourism, winner of the Conservation category; and Takiwasi, in the region of San Martin, dedicated to the development of medicinal products with native plants, winner of the Fair and Equitable Distribution category.  

Peruvian Nature was also recognized, influencing the region of Junin, dedicated to the production of native ingredients sich as maca, among other products, winner in the Economic Sustainability category; Chaxras, in Lurin -Lima, a restaurant that has implemented Biotrade principles and criteria in its gastronomic proposal, winner in the New Biotrade Initiative category.