For over 30 years, EARTH University in Costa Rica has offered students a unique opportunity to delve into agricultural and horticultural sciences, food chains, ethical entrepreneurship, and social and environmental issues. The university is known for its practice-oriented education. Every year, students from over 30 different nationalities come together to learn and share experiences.
EARTH Ventures, the university's business arm, runs a 500-hectare commercial banana plantation. The bananas are grown sustainably and are certified by Rainforest Alliance and Global GAP, among others. Every week, between 20 and 25 containers are exported to countries such as the United States, Germany, and the United Kingdom. 10 to 12% of the production is destined for the local market of Costa Rica.
The proceeds from EARTH Ventures' businesses contribute to the university's annual budget. In addition, its products bring EARTH's story to thousands of people in international markets.
But profit is not the only goal: the income also supports more than 80% of the students, who receive full or partial scholarships from various sources.
"Our banana has an added value. Our customers are not only buying fruit. They're also supporting the education of future agricultural specialists," stated Marita Caillaux, CEO of EARTH Ventures. This approach has allowed the brand to achieve a special position in the market, where companies such as Edeka in Germany and Whole Foods Market in the US are willing to pay a premium price for a product that has a social and environmental impact.
Despite the success of its model, EARTH is facing the same challenges as the rest of the banana sector. The appreciation of Costa Rica's currency has affected the profitability of exports, reducing revenues when the dollar is converted to the local currency. "We had to increase our productivity and reduce costs without compromising on quality," stated Adrián Jiménez Zúñiga, crop manager at EARTH's Commercial Operation. Another difficulty is the presence of diseases such as moko, which has affected some production areas. Strategies such as fallowing, the use of microorganisms, and proper management of resources have allowed EARTH producers to reduce its incidence by 85% in the last four years and up to 25% of the affected area has been recovered.
EARTH University aims to expand its market share in Europe by participating in international trade fairs. "The European market values sustainability and is willing to pay a fair price for certified products," Marita stated. The university already meets European requirements and expects to continue increasing its presence there.
EARTH's commercial activities operate according to a circular economic model. Each step in the chain is weighed against its environmental impact. "We don't just want to produce bananas, we want to be an example of how you can do business responsibly and profitably at the same time," Adrian stressed. EARTH is demonstrating that it is possible to unite education, sustainability, and trade successfully.
For more information:
Marita Caillaux and Adrián Jiménez
EARTH University
Costa Rica
Tel.:+506 8315 9816
Email: mcaillaux@earth.ac.cr
Email: adjimenez@earth.ac.cr
www.earth.ac.cr