Food processing is one area recommended by the national development agency ProParaguay. High value added food products such as frozen foods or microwave compatible dishes are still underdeveloped. Even in highly exploited areas such as soybean, the country's top export, industrialization has not really occurred. With the growing fashion for natural foods taking off, Paraguay, which boasts a wide variety of natural food, is well positioned to benefit. Many of its food sources are cultivated without the use of chemicals.
Many foods leave Paraguay unprocessed.
In soybean production an increasing percentage is processed in the country, and yields of raw materials are also growing. In order to keep up, more processing is required. Foreign investors are being sought for this. Processing is neglected in areas other than food in Paraguay. Oils have also been neglected in their development.