Cotopaxi Achieves Friend of the Earth Certification for Sustainable Quinoa

25 Aug 2015 --- Cotopaxi S.A. is the first quinoa (Chenopodium wild) producer to obtain the Friend of the Earth certification. Certified products can now carry the Friend of the Earth international eco-label.

The company, in cooperation with a group of small and large farmers, has cultivated quinoa in the Andes Mountains of Ecuador since 1886.

Cotopaxi – which is already GLOBALG.A.P. certified – is committed to social accountability as well as to environment conservation. Preventive pesticides are not used, thus reducing the number of chemicals applied. Farmers strive to decrease the emissions of carbon dioxide into the environment, the waste of water and the soil erosion.

An advanced management system developed by Cotopaxi guarantees a constant environmental impact control throughout the whole production chain, from farming cooperatives to distributors.

“Friend of the Earth certification provides important added value to our products”, states Mr. Francisco Paz of Cotopaxi. “We are proud to have been found compliant with all the strict requirements for sustainable agriculture.”