Promoting Paraguayan stevia
This article was originally published in The Tan Sheet
Executive Summary
The U.S. Agency for International Development and stevia extract manufacturer PureCircle encourage stevia cultivation in southern Paraguay through a cooperation and mutual investment agreement with the Paraguayan government. USAID's Paraguay Vende economic growth program will assist PureCircle South America in developing a business plan and stevia production basins in the Itapua department. "This is a very significant development" for the stevia industry, said PureCircle VP of Supply Chain Dorn Wenninger Oct. 12. PureCircle, with a U.S. office in Oak Brook, Ill., further cited the "enormous commercial opportunities and socioeconomic benefits that stevia cultivation is bringing to South America." As stevia-based sweeteners grow in popularity, stakeholders say limited supply is a problem (1"The Tan Sheet" July 6, 2009)