Palm Oil+

Palm Oil+ in a nutshell 🌴

In our pilot project in Ecuador, we are planting oil palms within a Dynamic Agroforestry (DAF) system. The combination of oil palms with cacao, various annual and perennial crops, and native tree species creates a vibrant, nature-based ecosystem.

Together with local producers, NGOs, and researchers, we are establishing three pilot plots that will serve as sites for research, learning, and training in sustainable palm oil production.

The goal of this pilot project is to demonstrate that palm oil can be produced regeneratively and economically successfully. Responsibly cultivated, palm oil can contribute to a more sustainable and equitable world.

With your support, you enable the start of the project: the planting of the first three pilot plots — already scheduled for January — marking the beginning of the palm oil revolution. 🌴✊

Find more details about the project below 👇👇

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🐱‍🏍 Who we are

Our interdisciplinary team formed during the master’s program Preneurship for Regenerative Food Systems at ZHAW. What started last year as a university project has now grown into a real initiative for change!

You can meet our team in the image gallery below 👇

What defines us 🦄

Through our association Árbol co(n)razón, we have been active in Ecuador for five years, continuously expanding our network. For our pilot project, we can rely on strong local and international partners:

– Franklin and Xavier, two palm oil producers, will each establish a pilot plot on their farms.

– INIAP, the National Institute for Agricultural Research, will set up one plot and provide the scientific supervision of the project.

– Agustina & Alejandro (Imaymana) bring valuable hands-on experience in Dynamic Agroforestry from their cacao plantation Finca Mashpi Shungo.

– Joachim Milz (ECOTOP) supports us with his decades of international experience in implementing Dynamic Agroforestry systems.

That’s where you come in 💚

🌱 The best planting season in our project region is December/January – the beginning of the rainy season. Since our foundation funding contracts will be signed a bit later, we currently lack the seed funding needed to start on time.

To avoid delaying the project start by an entire year, we need your support now!

With your help, our project partners can organize the seedlings and seeds right away, allowing us to train the field team and plant the first three pilot plots together in January 2026.

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BUDGET

🌱 Base goal (essential): CHF 16,600 This budget enables us to start the pilot project as planned. It covers basic training for the field team and the planting of the plots with the essential setup.

Seedlings: 80 oil palms, 264 cacao trees, 240 bananas, 264 papayas, 800 cassava, 2,000 malanga, 2,000 ginger, 2,000 turmeric, and 180 rainforest trees.

Seeds: Various native species and food crops such as chili, soy, beans, maize, pumpkin, tomatoes, etc.

🌿 Impact goal (crucial): CHF 21,600 This level ensures that the field team gains a deep understanding of Dynamic Agroforestry, not just the ability to work within it. It also allows us to increase plant diversity — adding valuable species such as pepper plants and pineapples (early income) and timber trees (long-term security).

This turns the pilot into a resilient model with strong regional impact.

🌳 Future goal (ideal): CHF 26,600 With this support, we can source rare native tree species from small nurseries to enhance biodiversity, and create a financial buffer for unforeseen challenges. Additional funds will go toward empowering women in agriculture, for example through subsidized training opportunities.

This goal lays the foundation for Palm Oil+ to become not just a pilot, but a beacon for regenerative palm oil production in Ecuador and beyond.

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🤓 The project in detail

The oil palm is by far the most productive oil crop in the world — and therefore indispensable. However, large-scale monoculture production causes severe environmental harm. We need a system that works for both people and the planet.

Our solution: Dynamic Agroforestry (DAF) — a diverse mixed-cropping system of annual and perennial crops. DAF continuously improves soil fertility, increasing productivity on existing farmland and thus helping protect rainforests from further deforestation.

Producers benefit too: cultivating various crops helps balance price fluctuations and reduce pests and diseases naturally.

The challenge lies in the complexity of the system — it requires more knowledge and planning than a monoculture. That’s why it’s crucial to identify optimal crop combinations and management practices, while training and educating farmers in these methods.

In Ecuador, together with local producers, NGOs, and research partners, we are establishing three pilot plots. These serve as research, learning, and training sites to refine the system, share experiences, and raise awareness of sustainable farming practices.

With this project, we are laying the groundwork for a fundamental transformation of the palm oil sector. Together, we can turn palm oil into a regenerative force 🌱🌳🌴