Informative article on clean production practices followed by Ingenio San Antonio (ISA), the sugar processing estate owned by Nicaragua Sugar Estates Limited (Grupo Pellas) in Chichigalpa, Nicaragua.

A group of people purportedly linked to the Nicaraguan Association of Persons Affected by Chronic Kidney Failure (ANAIRC) have been developing for some time a defamatory campaign on CKF / CKD against Nicaragua Sugar Estates Limited, based on unfounded allegations, with the sole purpose of getting unjustified money compensations from the company. In the last few weeks they have also targeted Grupo Pellas in their campaign and have launched a boycott against the Flor de Caña rum brand.
The aforementioned campaign is based on the assumption that former ISA workers acquired chronic kidney failure disease as a result of working for the company.

This campaign is unfounded because there is no scientific study establishing a causal relationship between working in sugar processing estates and CKF / CKD, as shown by the fact that countries such as Guatemala, Cuba, or Brazil, where sugarcane cultivation is one of the main activities, are not aware of any CKF / CKD epidemics in their cane growing areas. On the other hand, Japan, which does not grow sugarcane, reports the world’s highest prevalence.

Ingenio San Antonio (ISA) follows the same agricultural practices used throughout the world, with the added advantage of having an eco-friendly production system in place, given that the protection of the environment is an essential element of the company’s Corporate Social Responsibility policy.

Some cases in point are:
The integrated biological and mechanical pest management system that almost entirely eliminates the use of pesticides and protects the environment.

Ingenio San Antonio uses minimum low-toxicity pesticide doses, and only in very specific situations and in very limited planted areas (2-3% of total area). Consequently, there is no pollution and applications are made in areas located far from population centers.

Agrochemicals are registered at the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Forestry (MAGFOR) prior to the toxicological and eco-toxicological approvals issued by the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources (MARENA), respectively. These products are also registered at the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The products are neutralized in the soil and are not transferred along the food chain.

Ingenio San Antonio has personal protective equipment, which use is mandatory, and strictly enforces safety measures in the application and use of agrochemicals.
Periodic water quality tests are performed by renowned national and international laboratories, which show that water is suitable for human consumption. Further, the company has an efficient high-technology irrigation system that reduces water consumption, which results in rational use of the aquifer.

This clean production system has contributed, among other things, to Nicaragua Sugar being considered as an international benchmark in the sugar industry.

To make known the truth about this situation, Nicaragua Sugar has established a website titled “Nicaragua Sugar Estates Limited and Chronic Kidney Failure” at the following address:  http://www.laverdadnsel.com.

The official website of Nicaragua Sugar also contains extensive information on the company’s production practices and Corporate Social Responsibility policy. The website address is:  http://www.nicaraguasugar.com.

Other interesting links are:  http://www.youtube.com/grupopellas  http://laverdadchichigalpa.wordpress.com/
 http://www.laverdadnsel.com

add a comment on this article