Completed Project: Integrated Lime Production in Bahia – Brazil

In 2012, the Torres Group established its Tahiti lime production operations in the municipality of Pojuca, in Bahia State, Brazil. The Group entered the production business with the objective of vertically integrating and controlling its supply chain in order to obtain Fairtrade and Global Good Agricultural Practices (GlobalG.A.P.) certifications.

In December 2018, the CFC signed a loan agreement with the subsidiary Jan Stap B.V. to support the expansion of the Group’s sustainable lime plantation. While providing an environmentally sustainable alternative to consumers in Europe, the plantation also contributed directly to local income genera­tion and economic inclusion in one of the poorest municipalities in Brazil.

Following the CFC investment, the Torres Group demonstrated strong growth in both production and socio-economic impact. Lime production increased rapidly to more than 500 MT by 2022, supported by an expansion of cultivated land from 30 to 100 hectares while maintaining stable yields.

Employment also grew, particularly in tem­porary roles, alongside rising wages, which increased from approximately USD 2,400 to nearly USD 3,800 annually, indicating improved income levels. Gender inclusion improved modestly. Environmental impact was also evident, with tree planting increas­ing from approximately 11,000 to nearly 30,000 trees, alongside continued adher­ence to sustainability certifications.

SDGs