Por: Alex Villanueva Spelucín y Sheylla Sánchez Alvitres, Newmont Foncreagro.

Abstrac

The Ganaderos de Altura program, led by Newmont Foncreagro since 2000, is a flagship livestock development initiative based on a territorial management approach in Cajamarca, Peru’s main dairy-producing region, which accounts for 19% of national milk production (approximately 361 million liters per year). The activity directly involves approximately 90,000 families across the value chain and is a key source of employment and household income (Peru News Agency - Andina, 2022).

The program operates in 56 hamlets located between 3,000 and 3,800 m.a.s.l. within the direct area of influence of Newmont Yanacocha, where dairy farming is the main livelihood for 55% of the population. However, livestock farmers face structural challenges, including inefficient water resource management, limited technical assistance, low productivity, and adverse weather conditions. 

In this context, Ganaderos de Altura proposes a sustainable, multi-stakeholder intervention model that brings together rural communities, the private sector, government, and academia to transform family-based livestock farming into a profitable and resilient activity that contributes to greater well-being.

One of its key pillars has been the efficient management of water for irrigation, which is vital given the pronounced seasonal climate patterns in the area. The program has supported the construction of 402 small-scale water reservoirs, the improvement of 126 km of irrigation canals, and the implementation of modern irrigation systems, benefiting nearly 2,500 hectares of pastureland. These initiatives have helped ensure forage availability during the dry season and increase the productivity of livestock farming systems.

Capacity building has been another key driver of transformation. Through specialized technical assistance and ongoing training programs, 4,393 producers, with the active participation of women, received training in good livestock farming practices. In addition, 82 leading producers were trained as community veterinary promoters, and 63 officially obtained certification of their competencies, generating local employment and ensuring the continuity of technical assistance in the field.

At the production level, 4,060 hectares of improved pastures adapted to the area’s altitude and climatic conditions have been established. These pastures are fertilized with organic fertilizers to improve yields and conserve soils. 

At the same time, animal health campaigns have been implemented, helping reduce the prevalence of Fasciola hepatica from 73% to less than 10%. Genetic improvement of the herd has also been promoted through artificial insemination and the introduction of 5,600 high-genetic-quality breeding females adapted to the area’s agroecological conditions, contributing to improved production indicators. 

In addition, efforts have been made to comprehensively improve milk quality through training in good milking practices, as well as compliance with food safety and animal health standards. These efforts have enabled producers to obtain a better price for their products.

As part of the value-added and marketing component, seven dairy processing plants have been established, strengthening producers’ technical and commercial capabilities and enabling them to produce a range of cheeses and yogurt that meet market standards.

These components are complemented by stronger producer associations, which have facilitated access to public financing. Through the Ministry of Agrarian Development and Irrigation (MIDAGRI)’s Agroideas program, four business plans have been implemented, with an additional 11 planned, mobilizing more than S/ 2.2 million in livestock investments to date.

A collaborative innovation initiative also stands out, developed in partnership with the National University of Cajamarca, which validated the use of Hermetia illucens larval meal as a sustainable protein alternative. This has helped reduce livestock feed costs by 40% while promoting a circular economy through the use of organic waste. In parallel, environmentally efficient practices for managing livestock waste are being promoted, helping reduce the environmental footprint.

This territorial, comprehensive, and context-specific approach has enabled livestock-farming families to transition from a traditional, low-productivity system to a more modern, efficient, and resilient model. Over the 25 years of the program, this has resulted in a 173% increase in milk productivity and a 387% increase in annual income from milk sales.

In summary, Ganaderos de Altura represents a sustainable model for livestock development, demonstrating that responsible mining can generate shared value and catalyze territorial transformation processes, with results that can be scaled and sustained nationwide.