PRODUCTION AND MARKETING OF ECOLOGICAL AND STANDARDIZED GARLIC POWDER: A TECHNICAL-ECONOMICANALYSIS

A technical-economic study was designed and developed to analyze the standardized production and marketing of garlic powder. This study addresses the issues of variable quality garlic powder production and its environmental impact by designing an ecological industrial plant that uses solar energy for drying and utilizes agricultural residues from garlic processing for compost production. The process is divided into four units: raw material preparation unit, raw material processing unit, garlic powder production unit, and finally, the compost production unit. The methodology included process design, line balance analysis, and plant layout as part of the technical study, along with the application of surveys and a cost analysis of implementation as part of the economic study. To validate the product's marketability, surveys were conducted with 73 households and 68 food companies in Arequipa, assessing their interest in an ecological seasoning. The results showed high acceptance of the product, with 90% of households and 40% of companies interested in its use and purchase due to its quality and ecological production process. The conclusions highlight the feasibility of the plant design and its potential in the condiments and food additives market, responding to the growing demand for healthy and ecological products.