In a move to establish hemp as a valuable ingredient in the food industry, Uruguayan company Goland has successfully completed its first export of hemp seed-based food products to Argentina. This shipment included 2,500 units of hemp protein, oil, and hearts, marking Goland as the pioneer in introducing these products into the Argentine market.
“We are setting a new milestone for the region’s food industry,” stated Goland CEO Andrés Sosa. The company, which already distributes its products in the United States via Amazon, is strengthening its international expansion with presence now in three markets across the continent.
Goland was founded in 2020 with the goal of developing a new food matrix in Uruguay. The company promotes a triple impact model focusing on environmental sustainability, social well-being, and job creation. From its inception, Goland aimed to complete the production cycle locally rather than exporting raw materials alone. To achieve this objective, it formed strategic partnerships with institutions like the Catholic University of Uruguay for process validation and established an industrial plant in Canelones equipped for this production type.
“The challenge was to build everything from scratch: the cultivation, the industrial process, and the business model. We built that path step by step,” Sosa explained. Among Goland’s flagship products are innovations such as hemp protein coffee and a plant-based beverage.
The export process to Argentina required navigating regulatory and technical challenges. “We had to adjust processes and labeling, and align everything with the new market’s requirements,” noted Sosa. The company received significant support from institutional partners including Uruguay XXI, Canelones Department, LATU, ANII, and the Uruguayan Chamber of Industries. Uruguay XXI played a crucial role; “The human approach, close engagement, and strategic vision of the team were essential for companies like ours to take Uruguay’s flag to the world with innovation and quality,” emphasized Sosa.
Goland is among the first Uruguayan companies transforming hemp’s potential into tangible food innovation proposals. Its journey highlights an ecosystem committed to sustainability, applied research, and market expansion. Through strategic vision and public-private coordination efforts, Uruguay continues to broaden its export offerings with high-value-added products while positioning itself as a key player in emerging sectors.
