Agropecuaria Sara was established in Santa Cruz, Bolivia in 1993 by the Virreira family to produce soybeans on a 250-hectare farm. By the year 2000, the company had expanded soybean production to 3,420 hectares.

In early 2001 LAAD extended a US$500,000 loan to the company to purchase farm machinery. Since then, LAAD has made over US$2 million in loans to fund expansion and increases in permanent working capital needs.

The company currently plants 11,500 hectares of grain crops and 800 hectares of sugarcane, manages a 620-hectare forestry operation, and owns a 700-head cattle herd. With LAAD’s long-term funding support, annual revenues have grown from US$1.1 million in 2001 to US$4.8 million in 2005, and the company has become one of the largest farming operations in Santa Cruz. But perhaps more importantly, Agropecuaria Sara currently employs 60 full-time and 200 part-time workers and generates about US$3.9 million in annual export revenues.

LAAD has continued to support the Virreira family over the years and is very proud to work with this dynamic and innovative group.