Producing with respect: a lesson from the heart of the Amazon

At Agroindustrias González, we understand that producing in the Amazon is not just any privilege. It is an enormous responsibility. The Amazon is far more than a landscape, it is our home, our history and the foundation of everything we do. That is why, from our earliest days, we have taken on the commitment to preserve the forests that surround us, keeping them as a natural, vital barrier around our pig farms and our fish ponds.

Today, in Lago Agrio, we use only 10 hectares for the production of pigs, fish, sugar cane and pasture, while preserving 90 hectares of Amazon forest. In Borja, we set aside 30 hectares for pastureland and conserve 162 hectares of natural forest. These areas are left untouched, we simply care for them, protecting them from logging and allowing nature to regenerate on its own.

But this is not just a passing statistic for us, it is a permanent decision. Here, no trees are felled to expand growing areas, nor are roads opened to take up more space. We do not believe in that idea of production that flattens everything and leaves scars. We believe in healthy coexistence, in which cedars, guayacanes, balsas, guarumos and chilcas keep growing, and wild animals find refuge. In these forests you can still see spectacled bears, capybaras, pacas and several species of monkeys. And that is no coincidence. It is the result of letting nature stay alive, letting spaces regenerate again. We simply care for them without upsetting their balance, and in that respect, the species return.

This privileged setting has also been a silent ally in our production. The rainforest acts as a natural regulator, offering clean air and a calm environment for the animals. That is why, on our pig farms, we have managed to significantly reduce the use of antibiotics. The pigs’ quality of life improves thanks to that environment, which shows in healthier animals, with no need to over medicate them. This not only reduces reliance on medication, it also raises the quality of the meat we offer our customers.

The same is true of fish farming. This activity, which began at the time as an alternative to aggressive practices such as fishing with barbasco or dynamite, has become a source of clean, sustainable protein. Not only have we stopped polluting the rivers, we now also protect our internal water resources, maintaining a balance in water use and ensuring that the impact on aquatic ecosystems is minimal.

Our decision to leave more than 76% of the area under conservation is neither a legal obligation nor a commercial strategy. It is an ethical stance, a way of understanding that in the Amazon, not everything should translate into economic return. And although on the 36 hectares we do produce on, we always strive for efficiency and quality, we recognise that the true value of this land lies in what we do not touch.

Agroindustrias González does not seek to lay claim to the rainforest or turn it into a brand symbol. What we do is give thanks and give back, producing with respect, without invading, without displacing. We know the Amazon does not need saviours, but responsible producers, people who understand that we are not here to conquer territory, but to live alongside it.

And that is what we do, day after day, proud that on our farms the trees keep growing, the animals keep returning and production takes place in harmony with the forest.