Sustainable Development Strategy

Runa works with indigenous communities in the Ecuadorian Amazon to promote sustainable development. Runa accomplishes this through three main work areas: economic development, social empowerment, and environmental management.
 

Economic development

Runa has created a new market for guayusa. While widely consumed throughout indigenous communities in the Ecuadorian Amazon, farmers have never had access to sell guayusa on the international market. By creating a Fair Trade market for guayusa, Runa has generated an alternative income stream that continues to raise the standard of living of indigenous farmers. Runa pays an additional 15% social premium to the Napo Runa Artisan Association that funds a savings account used for community development projects.
 

Social empowerment

Fundación Runa, our non-profit partner, works with the Napo Runa Artisan Association of guayusa producers to promote democracy and transparency in the association. By strengthening the association, farmers have a democratic forum to organize themselves and vocalize their needs and demands. Fundación Runa also works with farmers at the household level to improve financial literacy and empower women to think as entrepreneurs.
 

Environmental management

Beyond our organic certification, Runa seeks to use guayusa as a vehicle for good environmental stewardship. Fundación Runa, our non-profit partner, works with farmers to research the impacts and benefits guayusa production has on the local environment. Fundación Runa also works with our communities to help design land management plans that designate conservation areas and forest reserves.

Results

In less than two years of full operations, Runa has planted over 150,000 trees and paid over $6,500 of supplementary income for guayusa leaves harvested from existing trees. Runa also helped these farmers receive USDA Organic certification.

Photo taken by ©Caroline Bennett

Maria Grefa’s family used to make less than $2 per day from logging and migrant labor. Selling organic guayusa to Runa, her family and 300 others have been able to raise their income by 30% each. This additional income is used to buy food and pay for their children's education.

Key Results

• Number of farmers reached: 1000

• Number of communities reached: 100

• Hectares under sustainable management: 2,000

• Hectares of forest protected: 10,000

• Number of scholarships granted: 2