Ecuador

Since 2007, Cerveceria Nacional (CN) in Ecuador has been running a programme that seeks to support small and medium-sized producers of rice while standardising the price and improving the quality and availability of supply. The results have been positive with production and quality increasing, creating jobs and impoving the incomes of the farmers involved.

The scheme has now been expanded to include sorghum and barley. The sorghum project, still at pilot stage and involving pioneering research, is looking at the best way to grow the crop in Ecuador while bringing maximum benefit to the local community. CN is also establishing a pilot scheme to identify which regions and altitudes are best suited to producing brewery barley. As well as providing raw material for the brewing process, the project will support small-scale farmers and help alleviate poverty.