On a global scale, Ecuador ranks first among countries that export organic products to the European Union, and organic bananas are the main product. This was confirmed by Patricio Almeida, executive director of the Agency for Phytosanitary and Zoosanitary Regulation and Control (Agrocalidad), after the country’s participation in the Organic Food & Eco Living Iberia 2023 fair, on June 7 and 8 in Madrid, where Ecuador participated as a guest country from Latin America. It is the most important trade fair on the Ibero-American peninsula for the ecological and organic sector on an international scale.

The event was attended by various brands and companies related to the organic sector such as: Pacari, Cusi, Rights Chocolate, Copropap, Nati Gold, Sierra, Cetca, among others, who presented their offer in the pavilion organized by the Ecuadorian Federation of Exporters. (Fedexpor).. Almeida, for his part, emphasized that 92.8 percent of the export of organic products to the European Union is accounted for by family and peasant agriculture, that is, small and medium-sized producers.

For the first time, Ecuador is participating in the reference international fair for the ecological sector

He added that 650 primary agricultural products (bananas, coffee, cocoa, oilseeds, etc.) and 1,603 products are currently being processed. snacks, chips, infusions; They are part of Ecuador’s export offer in this segment. He did this during the specialized technical talks he held at the event, since Ecuador, through Agrocalidado, chairs the Inter-American Commission for Organic Agriculture (CIAO), which is the main technical body that contributes to the development of organic activities in the countries of the Americas and facilitates the trade of their products.

Almeida reminded that since 2017, organic production in Ecuador has a recognizable seal that guarantees that organic food comes from sustainable agriculture and without pesticide residues, promoting sustainability and progress towards a responsible production chain.

He also noted that the national system of ecological products is harmonized with international regulations and European standards. He added that Agrocalidad is preparing a monitoring and control plan for entities and products of organic production in order to guarantee the integrity of export products. This instrument is based on risk analysis, non-compliance, residue analysis, and it is part of continuous process improvement.

These actions are aligned with the European Green Pact, which guarantees that the country will remain a leading exporter of tropical fruits, the official said.

‘Snacks’ are the leaders in the market of organic products in the country

For its part, Fedexpor highlighted the image that Ecuador left at the Organic Food Iberia fair, where more than 350 exhibitors from Spain and other European countries arrived.

In addition, the union promoted an exploratory trade mission to Spain, where, together with companies benefiting from its Green Circular and Expor Green projects, they toured major supermarket chains and innovation centers in Madrid.