With an investment of USD 120,000 and the support of universities and the private sector, the REACCT+ project is strengthening six local enterprises on San Cristóbal Island.
On January 31, 2025, the Reactivating the Economy through Science, Community, and Work (REACCT) project was relaunched. Led by the Galapagos Science Center and Universidad San Francisco de Quito, the initiative was originally launched in 2020 to promote the conservation and sustainability of the Galápagos Islands while supporting the local community during the economic crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, at which time it financed seven community projects.
In its current phase, REACCT+ focuses on strengthening the local entrepreneurship ecosystem on San Cristóbal Island by fostering the sustainable growth of local businesses through funding aimed at improving installed capacity, advancing legal formalization, and supporting the scaling of operations.
“We have designated 2025 as the Year of Food Security. During this period, we have focused on developing projects related to fisheries, agriculture, and local enterprises, with the goal of strengthening local production and ensuring that, from within the territory, we can meet the demand for certain products,” said Carolina Sampedro, a member of the GSC and the USFQ Institute of Geography.
Thanks to a total contribution of USD 600,000 from Royal Caribbean Group—through its brands Celebrity Cruises and Silversea—to the Center for Galapagos Studies at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, a range of research initiatives, community development programs, and student engagement opportunities have been implemented in the islands.
As part of this contribution, the second phase of the REACCT+ program was carried out with an investment of USD 120,000, reaffirming the company’s commitment to sustainable development and to improving living conditions in the communities where it operates.
“One year ago, we began this process with great enthusiasm and the expectation of seeing how these projects would evolve. Today, having the opportunity to visit some of them and to see how they are already integrating technology into their operations, we feel deeply proud to have contributed and to be part of this journey,” said Gabriela Naranjo, Royal Caribbean’s Regional Group Director for Ecuador.
Six local enterprises strengthen the sustainable economy in San Cristóbal
During 2025, REACCT+ worked with six local enterprises: Galafruit S.A., dedicated to producing fruit pulps from seasonal produce; El Trapiche, focused on the sustainable processing of sugarcane; ACECRIS / Chatham, an initiative linked to the San Cristóbal Specialty Coffee Growers Association and specialized in technified cocoa and coffee dragees; Green Island, dedicated to the production of artisanal chimichurris and local catering services; Lácteos San Cristóbal, focused on producing dairy products with an emphasis on quality and health formalization; and Galápagos Natural Harmony, dedicated to the artisanal production of dairy and cocoa under responsible practices.
These enterprises were selected from among participants of the Rural Business School developed by Heifer Ecuador Foundation as part of the Future of Food project, based on criteria including triple impact (social, environmental, and economic), access to raw materials and markets, and the strength of their business models.
“When we speak of these six entrepreneurs, we refer to processes in which multiple institutions join forces to provide sustainability to businesses through the provision of equipment, training, and follow-up. This enables these projects to make a real qualitative leap and is a clear example of how responses are built to invigorate the local economy,” said Rosa Rodríguez, National Director of Heifer Ecuador Foundation.
Capacity building through infrastructure provision and technical follow-up
On January 19 of this year, in the presence of local authorities and representatives from academia, international cooperation, and the private sector, technical visits were conducted to Galápagos Natural Harmony, ACECRIS / Chatham, and Galafruit S.A. to verify the progress achieved during the last year of REACCT+ implementation. During the visits, the impact of the equipment delivered through the project was observed, including productive infrastructure, specialized machinery, quality control supplies, brand design, labeling, and logistics expenses. This support has strengthened the enterprises’ operational capacity and commercial outlook, as well as delivered tangible improvements in their production processes—such as responsible production based on free-range grazing, the technification of dragee production, and expanded storage capacity for fruit pulps.
“Thanks to the REACCT+ project, we started producing milk caramel spread (manjar de leche). We received machinery for its processing, as well as equipment to refine cocoa. In addition, we received advisory support for label design and for strengthening our marketing techniques,” said Pablo Jaramillo from Galápagos Natural Harmony.
2026 outlook: next steps
In 2026, REACCT+ will continue supporting the enterprises through a comprehensive process focused on ensuring the start-up and efficient use of the equipment delivered; strengthening productive capacities and quality control; and consolidating the administrative and financial management of each business. This support will also include commercial development and access to new markets, regulatory compliance and formalization processes, as well as ongoing monitoring and evaluation to plan short- and medium-term growth. Through these actions, REACCT+ seeks to ensure the enterprises’ economic sustainability, improve the quality and consistency of their products, and strengthen their positioning in the local market.
