Uruguay citrus landscape Caputto

Uruguay has the potential to become a modern and developed country based on its agriculture business, thanks to the South American country’s wealth of natural resources.

That is according to Uruguayan minister of agriculture Tabaré Aguerre, who explains that steps are being taken to build a sustainable and transparent agriculture sector which will allow Uruguay to differentiate its export offer from the competition while also accessing new markets.

“Uruguay is a stable and reliable supplier of high quality products,” Aguerre states. “The main agricultural policies today are driving the expansion and diversification of Uruguayan products and export markets under a sustainable development model.”

Aguerre says those main policies are focused on sustainable agricultural growth for Uruguay by conserving the country’s natural resources through soil and water programmes, mitigating and adapting to climate change and promoting high quality food products on the international market.

With 95 per cent of Uruguay’s surface area covered in soil suitable for agricultural and livestock activities, a variable climate, and competitive natural ports, it is no surprise that the country’s brand is Uruguay Natural in view of its natural resources and natural services.

“But very often people in Uruguay itself aren’t aware of the country’s agricultural potential when in fact Uruguay could build a modern country on the basis of its natural resources,” points out Aguerre. “Our real opportunity lies in exporting high quality fresh fruit to the world.”

The full report is published in the 2013/14 edition of Trade Latin America, the annual supplement on the Latin American fresh produce business, published by Eurofruit, Asiafruit and Americafruit.