NL-KVK-27378529-PSIP14GT06 Netherlands Enterprise Agency Refined sugar can have harmful effects and create health problems. Because of health problems associated with sugar diets people are looking for healthy alternatives. There are many low-calorie sweeteners on the market, but most of them are artificial.After 2008, when the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) approved stevia as a dietary supplement, the market has evolved rapidly and stevia has become immensely popular in recent years. Stevia is a 100% natural, zero calorie sweetener with a number of health benefits that have been confirmed in human studies. The stevia plant is native to South America. It is a leafy plant that has been used for medicinal purposes for many centuries. The plant has also been bred for its strong, sweet flavour and used as a sweetener.The main sweetening ingredients in stevia are Rebaudioside A (Rebiana) and Stevioside. Rebiana is currently the main ingredient in stevia products. Currently, there are a few stevia plantations in Guatemala, but none is cultivating organic stevia. Also, there are no facilities for processing stevia leaves into stevia sweetener. The applicant Arnold Suhr B.V. and local partner Inversiones Estrada S.A. will establish a joint venture in Suchitepéquez for the cultivation of 50 ha organic stevia and set up a processing plant for the processing and extraction of stevia sweetener.To be able to secure enough raw material (organic stevia) project partners will contract ten farmers for the cultivation of 10 ha. These small farmers will be trained in sustainable cultivation practices. The joint venture will pay them fair prices. The joint venture will generate employment for 82 people, 40 will be for female workers. Arnold Suhr Netherlands B.V. Inversiones Estrada S.A. Netherlands Enterprise Agency Netherlands Enterprise Agency 14.421598 -91.404825 887042 -235132 -487871 887042 Arnold Suhr Netherlands B.V. 310467 Arnold Suhr Netherlands B.V. 44352 Arnold Suhr Netherlands B.V. 44352 Arnold Suhr Netherlands B.V. -235132 Arnold Suhr Netherlands B.V. -487871 Arnold Suhr Netherlands B.V. -235132 Arnold Suhr Netherlands B.V. 887042 -235132 -487871 Aggregated PSD results Aggregated PSD results Aggregated PSD results Aggregated PSD results Aggregated PSD results Business development, by investment or trade of local or Dutch companies with(in) low and middle income countries Business development, by investment or trade of local or Dutch companies with(in) low and middle income countries Business development, by investment or trade of local or Dutch companies with(in) low and middle income countries Business development, by investment or trade of local or Dutch companies with(in) low and middle income countries Business development, by investment or trade of local or Dutch companies with(in) low and middle income countries Business development, by investment or trade of local or Dutch companies with(in) low and middle income countries Business development, by investment or trade of local or Dutch companies with(in) low and middle income countries Business development, by investment or trade of local or Dutch companies with(in) low and middle income countries Business development, by investment or trade of local or Dutch companies with(in) low and middle income countries Business development, by investment or trade of local or Dutch companies with(in) low and middle income countries Business development, by investment or trade of local or Dutch companies with(in) low and middle income countries Business development, by investment or trade of local or Dutch companies with(in) low and middle income countries Business development, by investment or trade of local or Dutch companies with(in) low and middle income countries Business development, by investment or trade of local or Dutch companies with(in) low and middle income countries