Our Agroforestry pilot project

A new chapter begins: Our Agroforestry pilot project with vanilla, cocoa – and the power of the green world

Something new is beginning in the green heart of the Amazon. Quietly, but powerfully. Together with Reforestal and two local, partly indigenous families, we have launched a pilot project that is particularly close to our hearts: an agroforestry system that tests vanilla in combination with tutor trees such as cocoa on two carefully selected areas. It is a concrete step toward cultivating a healthier, more balanced green world that benefits both people and the planet.

Together instead of alone: a cooperation that connects

The land we are working on belongs to two families from the region – families who are connected to the land, not only economically, but above all emotionally. They bring their knowledge, patience and history to this project. The fact that we are able to work with them on an equal footing is not a matter of course – it is a gift.

With Reforestal, we have a strong partner at our side who not only stands for reforestation, but also for a new understanding of the economy that brings together nature, community, and the future. Together, we aim to explore how agroforestry systems with vanilla can help create a socially just and ecologically stable green world.

Vanilla & cocoa - a strong team in the forest

Vanilla is demanding. It needs living soil, moisture, shade – and support. Tutor trees such as cacao, but also other native species, offer it exactly that: a stable microclimate, structure and long-term fertility. The combination is not new – but has hardly been systematically tested in this region, under these conditions, with these partners.

We are therefore testing how the plants develop, how they need to be cared for, and how the biodiversity responds in two different areas. Feedback from the families is just as important to us as scientific methods. Because one without the other remains incomplete. By blending ancestral wisdom with modern science, we contribute to building a resilient and inclusive green world.

Letting it grow - together

This project is a start. An experiment. And a promise: We want to find ways to reconcile organic cultivation, fair cooperation and economic prospects. Without exploitation. Without empty promises. But with respect for what grows – in the earth, between people, and perhaps also in the way we think about the future.

We believe that restoring ecosystems and supporting communities go hand in hand in creating a truly sustainable green world.

We’ll keep you updated. And thank you to everyone walking this path with us.