The AIP covers the company’s 135 hectares of Litopenaeus vannamei farming in El Oro Province, which currently produces 753 tonnes of shrimp annually.
Patricia Bianchi, AIP and governance manager at ASC said in a press release: “We are proud to welcome Agrimingold, and its brand Marearosa, as the first Latin America producer to join the improver programme by ASC. Their commitment to positive change and enhancing environmental and social practices reflects the proactive spirit we aim to foster through this initiative.
“We look forward to supporting Agrimingold / Marearosa on their journey towards greater sustainability, social responsibility and, eventually, ASC certification.”
Agrimingold CEO, Annabell Palacios, added: “Our participation in the AIP represents a fundamental milestone in our firm purpose towards environmental sustainability and a solid social responsibility. We want to make a significant contribution to the protection of the environment and the wellbeing of the sector, especially vulnerable communities.
“We are excited to be a part of this initiative, and we are committed to working hard to achieve our goals.”
About the ASC's improver programme
The ASC's improver programme supports farms who are not ready or eligible for ASC certification but are committed to improving their farming practices through an AIP. It comprises a set of procedures and tools to ensure that improvements are consistently and effectively implemented by producers in the form of Aquaculture Improvement Projects (AIP).
There are currently 17 active AIPs in the shrimp sector: Ecuador (1), Kenya (1), Bangladesh (1), Indonesia (2) and Thailand (12).
