Palm Oil+ | Palm Oil+ from Dynamic Agroforestry - Pilot Projekt

To generate empirical evidence that oil palm Dynamic Agroforestry (DAF) systems outperform monocultures economically and ecologically, contributing to a regenerative, livelihood-enhancing model for sustainable palm oil. In this pilot phase, we focus on the performance and cost-benefit-ratio of early-stage plantation development.

Palm Oil is famous for its role in causing tropical deforestation particularly in Indonesia and Malaysia. The replacement of pristine tropical rainforests by extensive oil palm monocultures has devastating effects on biodiversity and global climate. Additionally, the processing of palm fruits to palm oil in the oil mills has more detrimental effects to the environment - specifically the production of large volumes of methane (a very potent GHG). On the other hand, the oil palm is by far the most productive oil crop in the world. Per hectare, it produces at least four times more vegetable oil than the second most productive oil crop, sunflower oil. Therefore, it is irreplacable for global food security and replacing palm oil by other vegetable oils would cause even more pressure on natural ecosystems. Among the world's most productive crops, oil palm is the only perennial crop that doesn't require tillage. Thus, it is an important crop for global transition away from fossil fuels.

Its crucial to identify ways to produce palm oil sustainably - or even regeneratively. Dynamic Agroforestry shows several benefits over monocultures. In coastal Ecuador, oil palm farmers are painfully aware of the downsides of monocultures after a plant desease has destroyed several tenths of thousands of hectares of oil palm plantations. Now, research institutes have developed new hybrid varieties that are more resistant to the desease and many large producers have started to re-plant their plantations - in monoculture again. Therefore, there is a special window of time to prevent the large-scale re-planting of monocultures.

In Ecuador, we are implementing Oil Palm-based Dynamic Agroforestry (DAF) systems on three different sites of local partners. Two of those partners are agronomic palm oil producers and the third is Ecuador's National Research Institute for Agriculture (Instito Nacional de Investigaciónes Agropecuarias, INIAP). Each of the three sites consists of three sub-plots: two DAF plots based on the same design but in two different densities and a control plot that consists of a typical monoculture. The monoculture allows us to compare all collected agronomic data to an on-site control. The three distinct sites allow scientific research data collection. In our 3-year pilot project, we implement and maintain the three sites. We use those sites to collect agronomic and ecological data and to showcase the alternative to monocultures to interested farmers, students, scholars, etc. For the latter, we will organize open field days, workshops and at least one course.

Fundación Imaymana is an Ecuadorian foundation dedicated to conservation and sustainable rural development in Ecuador. Red Ecuatoriana de Forestería Análoga is an Ecuadorian Network engaging strongly in Reforestation and Agroforestry - among others. Instituto Nacional de Investigaciónes Agropecuarias is Ecuador's National Research Institute for Agricultural Research and has the scientific lead in our project. Dryland Agroforestry Center is a Portuguese NGO committed to the dissemination of Agroforestry with a strong knowledge background in agricultural research.

With our Pilot Project we create the Proof of Concept for Oil Palm-based Dynamic Agroforestry (DAF). We aim to showcase the numerous advantages that DAF has over monocultures - to proof that high yields and wildlife-friendly farming are compatible. In Ecuador, thousands of hectares of former oil palm plantations are still left abandoned and can be re-planted in DAF. Achieving large-scale adaption, these DAF systems turn monotonous oil palm landscapes into diverse agro-ecosystems that provide habitat for the unique biodiversity of the Western Ecuadorian Moist Forest. Additionally, it increases the fertility of the soil and has several other advantages for the producers, such as greater independence from world market fluctuations and climate extremes as well as higher overall financial income per land area. Thus, the project helps to increase food security and food sovereignty while combatting poverty, the biodiversity crisis and climate change.

In Ecuador, there is a unique opportunity to achieve large-scale adoption: after a desease has destroyed tens of thousands of oil palm monocultures, there are vast land areas for adoption. Additionally, farmers are very aware of the downsides of monocultures - one of them being susceptibility to pests and desease. Therefore, they are more open to explore new ideas. Árbol co(n)razón has been working on the concept of Regenerative Palm Oil for several years already. In our team, we have visionaries and experts in all relevant fields of the project. Our Vision goes far beyond transforming monocultures into DAF-systems and includes the whole process chain. There is more to come in the next phase - or even before that.