special insert Sustainable, Non-GMO and OrganiC A Great Seal of Quality for Minsa USA’s Flour By Hernando Ramírez-Santos n a world where more and more AM: How do you promote consumers are looking for healthy and organic and sustainable sustainable food options, Minsa USA ingredients in your has adapted to these emerging trends, product line? ensuring sustainability and care for the IA: The demand for organic, Ienvironment in its corn 昀氀our production non-GMO, and sustainable process. products has increased over the To learn more about Minsa USA’s commitment to last decades, and it is not a trend sustainability and the reduction of its carbon footprint, that came and went; it is here to stay. Minsa has Abasto Magazine interviewed the company’s director, Iván been preparing for this trend, and we have followed the Ahumada-Gómez. guidelines, regulations, and needs of the market and the authorities to o昀昀er fully certi昀椀ed products. Abasto Magazine: How is Minsa USA adapting to new healthy trends in the food industry? AM:What organic products are you o昀昀ering?? Iván Ahumada: We are adding new product lines and IA: We have a line of organic corn 昀氀our for snacks and bene昀椀ts to our 昀氀ours. Improving our production chain tortillas in blue, white, and yellow corn varieties, guaranteed processes:. through the NPO Organic Certi昀椀cation. • Organic. • Transgenic free. AM: How does MINSA USA ensure it meets • Under an IMS (Integrated Management sustainability and product safety standards System) scheme. throughout its supply chain? • Using whole corn grain, 昀椀ber intake. IA: Our suppliers throughout the supply chain, from seed, grain, packaging materials, and production, must AM: How does Minsa USA ensure sustainability comply with all the requirements of our certi昀椀cations and in its production processes and reduce must be approved by our audits and those of the certi昀椀ers. environmental impact? In addition, we carry out continuous training of personnel IA: We follow strict standards that ensure sustainable and constantly communicate company policies. production and help protect the environment. In these AM: Do you have plans to expand your o昀昀er of procedures, it is worth highlighting: organic and sustainable products in the market? 吀栀e use of regenerative corn in 昀氀our production. IA: Without a doubt. 吀栀e 昀椀rst step is to o昀昀er the products Use of organic corn. to the tortilla and snack market (tortilla chips, chips, Recirculate nixtamal washing water for the cooking extruded products) and, as a second stage, to consumers in process. self-service (retail) chains. Minsa’s factories are accredited as Quali昀椀ed Users and, AM: What are the benefits of marketing GM- therefore, have access to the Wholesale Electricity free and organic products? Market. This is why IA: Marketing organic and GMO-free products promotes photovoltaic energy regenerative agriculture, protects biodiversity, and helps has been implemented restore farmland. In the case of organic corn, we help avoid in two plants and the soil and water contamination with pesticides and herbicides. cogeneration of electricity It is the way to grow as Mother Nature intended. in one plant. 22 MMAAYY//JJUUNNE 20E 20224 - 4 - AABABASSTTOO..CCOMOM