La Estevia: a sustainable alternative for small producers

Abstract

Stevia, Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni, or sweet grass, is a perennial shrubby plant belonging to the Asteraceae family, native to Paraguay, it produces up to 20 stems in 3 to 4 years and can reach up to 90 centimeters in height in its natural habitat ( Landázuri, 2009). Photos 1 and 2.

In the world, the cultivation areas are located in China, where it contributes 90% of world production, that is, about 2,700 tons; and in South America specifically in Paraguay, Bolivia and Argentina (Salinas, 2006). In popular medicine it has been used as a treatment for diabetes with great success; in Brazil and Asian countries, it is officially accepted for this purpose (Álvarez 2006).