About Adega Cooperativa Cantanhede

Direct
- Increase productivity and financial health of smallholder farmers: around 50% of Vallata's organic limes exports originate from 62 smallholder farmers. Vallata and the smallholder farmers work together in agreement with a third organisation specialising in organic production and exporting. Beyond receiving technical assistance in organic certification, this campaign allows Vallata to integrate the producers into exporting markets while allowing for better and shorter payment conditions. The access to international markets to Colombian producers has the potential to improve agricultural productivity and efficiency.
Indirect
- Promotion of sustainable and resilient food production systems: Vallata implements the organic mode of production for limes and other fruit, having their own production as well as the smallholder producers with whom they partner are certified organic and good agricultural practices (Global GAP certification). Vallata owns 100 hectares of land under production and another 130 hectares being sowed, while the associated producers amount to another 100 hectares. In addition, Vallata owns 40 hectares of land that are natural reserves. In total, currently, there are 240 hectares of land under organic agriculture or natural protection.
- Improve resources use efficiency in consumption and production: Vallata implements sustainable practices in its production and relations with producers. On the farms, they use manual irrigation systems (that are water-use efficient) and have 40 hectares of natural reserve protecting river basins. Regarding energy consumption, Vallata’s activity is not very energy intensive. However, their energy consumption comes from hydroelectric plants in Antioquía. In their waste management, Vallata composts the residues from the farm to use as organic matter and fertilizer for production. Also, the promoter has been working with European partners to reduce waste of the aesthetically rejected fruit on traditional sale by processing other derived products, such as juice from the organic limes.
Team
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