Irupana is a Bolivian social enterprise that sources organic produce from small-scale farmers and manufactures certified organic food products for sale internationally. While run as a for-profit, the enterprise was established with the objective to help poor Bolivian farmers improve their livelihoods in a sustainable manner.

Today Irupana markets more than 80 products, including coffee, honey, dried fruits and nutrition bars, to 20 Irupana stores and 300 outlets in Bolivia, as well as overseas markets in the US, Israel, Eastern Europe and Germany. The enterprise generates about USD 1 million in sales annually, and sources raw materials from 1,700 subsistence farmers who otherwise would have very limited market access.

The Grassroots Business Initiative is working with Irupana to achieve the following goals:

• Institutional and managerial strengthening, including hiring additional management, restructuring the organization, training the management, and developing stronger accounting and management information systems and monitoring and evaluation metrics.
  
• Expansion of Irupana’s Exporting and Operating Capacity, including enhancement of Irupana’s information systems and distribution networks for deeper penetration in Chilean, American and European markets.
  
• Strengthening the Supplier Development Program to transfer appropriate technology to the local farmers and increase their skills and productivity.

www.irupana.org

Learn more about Irupana's Products at Pangea Artisan Market & Cafe

Video (150K, 56K)
Powerpoint presentation by Javier Hurtado, Irupana’s founder