PepsiCo to plough 20 million pesos into Mexican agriculture
PepsiCo Alimentos México said the funding will be used to implement the Agrovita programme over the next three years in the Mexican states of Tabasco and Chiapas. The southeast is Mexico’s second biggest agricultural region, contributing 25.5% to the country’s annual production.
The Agrovita programme is part of PepsiCo’s global Positive Agriculture vision and will benefit more than 920 small-to-medium enterprises (SME) that produce potatoes, bananas, cocoa and palm in the region.
The snack giant said the investment will also go a long way to support more than 37,000 people by improving food security in their communities.
“We are convinced that we have an important role to play in the recovery of the country after a very challenging year,” said Roberto Martínez, president of PepsiCo Alimentos México.
“Today, more than ever, we seek to be growth triggers for our producing partners in the field, so we have opted for Tabasco and Chiapas to continue detonating their competitiveness.”
Nuture the future of Mexicans
PepsiCo is the main buyer of potatoes in Mexico.
“Establishing links with institutions such as the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, as well as with various civil society organisations, helps to create virtuous circles in order to strengthen the field and nurture the future of millions of Mexican men and women in a sustainable way,” added Martínez.
“The federal agency is an ally of initiatives that contribute to the gradual substitution of imported products, to maintain and strengthen the internal market and to generate wealth in the country’s regions, with a productive and social vision,” said Víctor Villalobos, Secretary of Agriculture and Rural Development.