Mundo Sano sarl

Helping to forge a sustainable business in Bolivia

Overview

Pyrethrine is an effective natural alternative to chemical insecticides. It can be used, for example, in organic farming. Pyrethrum to date has been mainly produced in the Kenyan highlands. Mundo Sano is a company based in Bolivia that is one of the first commercial producers of pyrethrum in South America. This enterprise builds on a successful 15-year pilot project conducted by the Universidad Mayor de San Simon in Cochabamba.

Mundo Sano has a developed a strong social impact agenda, focusing on enabling the indigenous stakeholders to create and or join in new business opportunities.  A key result will be that, over time, many of the participants will experience a steady increase in household income.  The company has implemented the project in close cooperation with local peasants, who grow the flower and, with other residents, use the insecticide for organic agriculture (e.g. for the cultivation of quinoa) in the Altiplano region of the country.

Approach

Through the efforts of Mundo Sano, a new association of small growers was established.  Some sixty families were contracted to Mundo Sano to grow the pyrthrum flowers.  The cultivation of this cash crop has enabled them to rise above the poverty line.  Importantly, organic quinoa, cocoa and onion producers across Bolivia were identified as buyers of pyrethrum.

Pyrethrum will replace the conventional chemical insecticides these commercial growers currently deploy.  This fundamental change in the preferred insecticide of choice is a key step for developing sustainable ecological husbandry. Mundo Sano has developed a low technology repellent and insecticide based on pyrethrum powder for domestic use.  This low-cost product is particularly timely as South America often experiences the ill effects of mosquito-borne diseases such as Dengue Fever and Malaria.

GEXSI has supported this social venture by stewarding the funds by setting up legal vehicles to adminster funds, and we acted as a payment agent. Moreover, we arranged the reporting for impact and performance, and undertook extensive due diligence prior to and during the initial investment period.

Outlook

Mundo Sano is pursuing its commercial plans, and gauging the impact of their social and environmental benefits.  They are also vigorously seeking additional funding.