CAEI: Driving innovation and profitability in the agricultural sector

CAEI is the second largest producer of sugar cane in the Dominican Republic. In 2010, it undertook a strategic business transformation that resulted in CAEI being, by 2017, one of the most profitable and competitive companies in the sugar industry in the Caribbean. This was achieved mainly thanks to the incorporation of new technologies, the innovations introduced in processes, and a radical change in the way employees were treated and motivated. The case study describes this transformation, as well as the challenges facing the company (and the industry as a whole) in 2017. Difficulties include the WHO recommendations on reducing sugar consumption, competitive dynamics in the international scene, and changes in international trade agreements.