In the Brazilian Amazon region of Carajás, in the state of Pará, the Central Cooperative CUIA is turning fruit juice production waste into organic fertilizer. This innovative approach transforms what was once an environmental burden into a valuable resource for farmers. By doing so, it promotes a shift toward ecological farming, lowers production costs, boosts productivity, and strengthens local autonomy and resilience.
The Central of Family Farming Cooperatives of the Amazon Region (CUIA) is a second-tier cooperative founded in 2018. Today, it unites 10 cooperatives and approximately 800 rural families, whose production mainly supplies food for regional consumption.
CUIA and its cooperatives are part of REDES, a program developed by DGRV and implemented in partnership with the OCB System in Pará. Through advisory services and training, REDES strengthens cooperative organization, improves production processes, and expands market access. This support helps farmers enhance their quality of life and prepare for sustainable growth in both the quality and quantity of their products.
Frozen fruit pulp is a common product in the Amazon region. However, this process leaves behind residues such as peels, seeds, and other unused parts. After careful analysis, these leftovers proved highly suitable for producing organic fertilizers.
Using these bio-inputs not only reduces costs but also strengthens agroecological farming and delivers environmental and food security benefits. Compost-based fertilizers lower greenhouse gas emissions and enhance soil structure thus boosting water retention and reducing irrigation needs.
To demonstrate the product’s effectiveness, DGRV launched a pilot plot and organized a workshop with CUIA’s cooperative leaders. The goal was to train them to encourage the gradual adoption of organic fertilizers in food production as this transition requires farmers to understand its use
.
In the last quarter of 2025, construction began on a small factory dedicated to producing and packaging organic fertilizers. By the first half of 2026, the goal is to commercialize the product both to CUIAS´s cooperatives and associated farmers, as well as to the wider region.
This initiative showcases how waste and environmental liabilities can be transformed into valuable solutions. Driving the shift toward agroecological farming that nurtures the land, empowers communities, and delivers lasting benefits for both the region and the planet.
In the Dominican Republic, savings and credit cooperatives (SACCOs) are a cornerstone of financial inclusion. Especially in rural areas, they are often the only financial institutions that people can rely on for saving, for borrowing — for building a better future. Protecting the savings of thousands of members and ensuring that these cooperatives are managed […]
More