American Vanguard Corporation has announced the acquisition of Grupo Agricenter, dedicated to the production and commercialization of crop protection products in Central America.
From a statement issued by Agricenter:
NEWPORT BEACH, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--American Vanguard Corporation (NYSE:AVD) announced today that its wholly owned subsidiary AMVAC Netherlands BV, will acquire Grupo Agricenter to reinforce its commercial, technical and development structure in the Latin-American region. AMVAC has been a key player in the Latin American agricultural sector for more than a decade and has become a leader in the nematicides segment for crops such as banana and pineapple. The acquisition of Grupo Agricenter, a well-established distributor of multiple crop protection products in seven Central American and Caribbean countries, will considerably expand AMVAC’s product and service offerings in the region.
The opening of three processing plants for beans, plantains, cassava and avocado, in León, Rivas and Nueva Guinea is expected for 2018, with an estimated investment of $8 million.
Representatives from the Union of Agricultural Producers in Nicaragua (Upanic) detailed that the plant to be constructed in Leon will be dedicated to the processing of green and ripe plantains, and those from New Guinea to processing roots and tubers.
Projections for 2017-2018 are to plant an area of 1.7 million manzanas (a unit equivalent to 1.72 acres), in the cattle sector 865 thousand head of cattle are expected to be slaughtered and, in the dairy industry the expected projections are of 280 million gallons.
The Plan for Production, Consumption and Trade in the 2017-2018 Cycle includes details of the Nicaraguan government's projections for agricultural, livestock, poultry, aquaculture and forestry sectors for the current year and the next.
After two decades of research, a report by 20 top US scientists has concluded that GM crops are safe for health and the environment.
The largest piece of research on the impact of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) which has been made by the National Academy of Sciences of the United States demolishes myths promoted by environmental organizations by concluding that these crops are no different from others and that there is not a one test that has shown a negative impact on the health of people.
A decline in international prices and lower productivity of Honduran agribusinesses compared to Asian ones explain the 26% drop in foreign sales to June 2015.
According to local oil palm producers the main reason is the lack of competitiveness of the local palm oil compared to that produced in Asia. They argue that "... 'In Honduras it is difficult for palm agribusiness companies to diversify their products and turn them into finished products'. "
The agricultural chambers in the region are preparing law proposals to be presented in the Central American countries to remove the restrictions on growing GM foods.
Representatives from FECAGRO said the use of agricultural biotechnology allows for improved technology that enables high productivity seeds, reduces agrochemical use, creates more drought-resistant crops that can also be irrigated with salt water and are completely safe for human consumption.
The Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency has given Grupo EcoPlanet Bamboo a guarantee of up to $48 million to expand its investments in the cultivation and processing of bamboo for industrial use.
From a statement issued by the World Bank:
MIGA increases investment guarantees for EcoPlanet Bamboo Group in Nicaragua to US $48.8 million
Pioneering project in the world market for certified sustainable alternative fiber
The Agricultural Affairs Committee in the Legislative Assembly has rejected a bill which sought to impose a moratorium on the cultivation of genetically modified foods.
Lack of certainty and scientific consensus on the risk of the release and cultivation of GMOs were key to the decision.
Although some sectors anticipated approval of the initiative by the Commission on GM crops, most of the deputies in the Agricultural Affairs Committee rejected it, burying the law that would have banned GM cultivation in the country for four years.
A company dedicated to the cultivation and processing of bamboo plans to increase the number of hectares planted in 2015 from 2,400 to 3,000 and produce bamboo fiber for industrial purposes.
In order to start exporting in 2016, the group EcoPlanet Bamboo aims increase its planted areas to market bamboo fiber in the United States, so that it can be used as raw material in the production of activated charcoal.
A Colombian company has obtained a patent on two machines that reduce water consumption in oil palm plantations, and has plans to install a plant in Guatemala.
The Colombian company Inal has obtained a first patent and it is expected that before the end of 2014 it will set up a pilot plant capable of processing ten tons of palm per hour.
The general manager of the company, Angel Acuna told portafolio.co that "...
In the department of Estelí, the main producing area, the price of land has risen, driven by increasing demand for areas in which to grow tobacco plants.
In 2013 cigar exports generated revenues in excess of $200 million and production achieved a 18% growth compared to the previous year, reflecting the good performance of the tobacco industry in the country.
$2.5 Million will be invested in a cassava processing plant with capacity to produce 1400 quintals a day of flour for export.
The investment will be made by the company Almidones de Centroamérica S.A., who in order to ensure a supply of the raw material for the plant, has implemented a plan for cassava production with 300 small producers in the area of León.
Businessmen and government are working on reversing the decline in banana exports which 10 years ago were worth doubled the amount they are today.
Implementing measures supported by the government, the sector wants to revive the production of bananas in light of the loss of 40% of crop areas and reduced exports.
Hector Castro, President of the National Association of Banana Producers (Aprobana) "said they are seeking government support so that they can be positioned among the top banana exporting countries, as they were in the 70s."
This sector, which contributes $7 billion to Guatemala's GDP, needs more food processing and product development investment.
From a report by Central American Business Intelligence (CABI)
"... In the region, Guatemala is an agricultural country par excellence. Not only is this confirmed by macroeconomic figures, but also biophysical, technical and governmental aspects related to the activity.
A 42% increase in the production of pineapples in the last four years is due to higher yields, not by an increase in planted areas.
The strong increase in the production of the product in the period 2009-2013 can be attributed to an improvement in yields on already cultivated land and not to an increase in the amount of areas planted, explain industry representatives. In the same period exports increased by 44%.