Production of all-natural guacamole and avocado oil in Nicaragua Applicant Grupo Agroindustrial Puntarenas S.A. is a producer of fruit and vegetable juices for the wholesale and retail market, seeking to diversify its product portfolio in the Costa Rican market. Local partner Inversiones González Rappaccioli S.A. is a producer of avocados for the fresh market. Approximately 10% of avocado production gets rejected as fruits do not meet fresh market quality standards. Together, the partners identified the business opportunity to process fresh avocados to all-F14-natural, shelf-stable guacamole and avocado oil for the Costa Rican market or the international cosmetic market. For this purpose, the partners will establish a factory in Nicaragua to produce guacamole and avocado oil, to be sold through the existing marketing and sales network of applicant Puntarenas. The partners will conclude long-term supply agreements with 12 avocado producers during the follow-up phase. The pilot project will generate 52 full-time positions. During spin-off, employment will grow to 97 FTEs. Partners will establish a joint venture. The project is new for Nicaragua as currently no industrial processing of avocado takes place in Nicaragua.Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)The processing line will pasteurise without heat and chemicals. The joint venture will conclude long-term supply agreements with avocado producers and will pay premium process for fresh avocados. The joint venture will develop a CSR policy and share the principles with its staff.Impact•	Employment and working conditionsAll staff will be offered long-term contracts of at least one year duration. Fringe benefits for the employees will include a 13th month, 30 paid holiday days, health insurance, paid maternity leave and paid sick leave. In addition, employees will receive pension through the employer’s pension contributions to the Instituto Nacional del Seguro Social (INSS).The joint venture will offer good and safe working conditions. Special clothing and protective equipment will be provided, such as uniforms and face masks. By means of the extensive training schedule for both direct and indirect employees, the joint venture will contribute to strengthening the employee’s value for future employment opportunities.•	Innovation / Transfer of knowledgeThe products are entirely new for Nicaragua. While there are a number of avocado farmers, no industrial processing of avocado currently takes place. Production of guacamole and avocado oil are new to the country. Also, industrial production with High Pressure Processing technology (HPP) of fruits or vegetables does not take place in Nicaragua. Therefore, the project is also innovative, because it will introduce new food processing technology to the country.Local suppliers benefit from the project as the partners will not only buy the good quality avocados, but also buy the lower quality and waste avocados to be used for avocado oil.The production facility will be HACCP certified.•	Chain effectsImpact on local suppliersThe joint venture will conclude long-term contracts with at least 12 outgrowers. The joint venture will offer good prices to the outgrowers, technical support and make good  seedlings available for outgrowers.Impact on local customers or consumersIt is assumed that 80% of production will be exported to Costa Rica, 20% will become available for local consumers.•	Impact on the sectorThe joint venture will offer one internship position for students of the National Agrarian University.The technology introduced can also be copied and is also applicable for processing other products.•	EnvironmentThe impact on the environment is positive, as it will introduce a clean, environmentally friendly processing technology that does not require thermal or chemical elements for pasteurisation.•	Position of womenAt least 60% of staff members will be female.•	Impact on food safetyIt is estimated that 20% will be sold to the local market. To some extent high quality products will become available on the local market. To establish a fresh avocado processing facility for all-natural guacamole and avocado oil with a monthly capacity to produce 50 tons of guacamole and 10 tons of avocado oil.