Case Studies
Regenerative Agriculture Boosts Cacao Yields in the Peruvian Amazon
Utcubamba, Peru
Overview
Our partner in Peru, BIOEM SAC, is dedicated to promoting regenerative agriculture. They regularly provide workshops for cacao farmers in agricultural cooperatives, teaching them how to produce and apply Activated EM·1 to improve soil and plant health.
One successful example is cacao farmer Mr. Javier Ortiz Zelada, whose farm is located in the heart of the Peruvian Amazon. Through regenerative practices, he has successfully transformed his land.
By moving away from conventional agrochemicals and adopting biofertilizers made with EM・1, he has not only revitalized his soil but also significantly improved his cacao yields within just a few years.
One successful example is cacao farmer Mr. Javier Ortiz Zelada, whose farm is located in the heart of the Peruvian Amazon. Through regenerative practices, he has successfully transformed his land.
By moving away from conventional agrochemicals and adopting biofertilizers made with EM・1, he has not only revitalized his soil but also significantly improved his cacao yields within just a few years.
Challenges
Before introducing EM Technology and regenerative methods, Mr. Ortiz’s land faced several challenges:
- Severe soil degradation caused by prolonged use of chemical insecticides and fungicides.
- Declining productivity, with cacao yields stagnating at around 700kg per hectare due to soil compaction and salinization.
- High input costs, with conventional management requiring more than 3,000 Soles (USD810) per hectare.
- Severe soil degradation caused by prolonged use of chemical insecticides and fungicides.
- Declining productivity, with cacao yields stagnating at around 700kg per hectare due to soil compaction and salinization.
- High input costs, with conventional management requiring more than 3,000 Soles (USD810) per hectare.
EM Application
After learning about regenerative agriculture, Mr. Ortiz implemented the following practices on his farm:
- Introduced EM Technology by producing Activated EM・1, along with both liquid and solid biofertilizers.
- Established plant cover to protect and enrich the soil, creating conditions similar to those in natural forests.
- Used organic inputs such as seabird guano.
- Applied EM biofertilizers regularly, following a schedule of up to eight applications per year.
- Introduced EM Technology by producing Activated EM・1, along with both liquid and solid biofertilizers.
- Established plant cover to protect and enrich the soil, creating conditions similar to those in natural forests.
- Used organic inputs such as seabird guano.
- Applied EM biofertilizers regularly, following a schedule of up to eight applications per year.
Effects and Results
The integration of EM Technology with regenerative practices has resulted in:
- An increase in cacao yields from 700 to 1,000 kg/ha within four years, with projections of 1,200–1,300 kg/ha.
- A significant reduction in the use of synthetic agrochemicals, as EM biofertilizers are now produced locally using low cost materials such as molasses and minerals, making the approach economically accessible.
- Lower production costs, with an investment of approximately 800 soles (USD210) per hectare, compared to over 3,000 soles (USD810) under conventional farming methods.
- Mr. Ortiz shared his experiences and supported other farmers, such as a native cacao producer who successfully transformed her plot in just over a year.
Other cacao farmers have also experienced:
- Greater flowering.
- 20% to 30% reduction in the incidence of monilia disease.
- Improvement in bean quality .
- Decrease in cadmium content by 30%-40%, reducing its presence in the soil from 0.6 to 0.4 ppm.
- An increase in cacao yields from 700 to 1,000 kg/ha within four years, with projections of 1,200–1,300 kg/ha.
- A significant reduction in the use of synthetic agrochemicals, as EM biofertilizers are now produced locally using low cost materials such as molasses and minerals, making the approach economically accessible.
- Lower production costs, with an investment of approximately 800 soles (USD210) per hectare, compared to over 3,000 soles (USD810) under conventional farming methods.
- Mr. Ortiz shared his experiences and supported other farmers, such as a native cacao producer who successfully transformed her plot in just over a year.
Other cacao farmers have also experienced:
- Greater flowering.
- 20% to 30% reduction in the incidence of monilia disease.
- Improvement in bean quality .
- Decrease in cadmium content by 30%-40%, reducing its presence in the soil from 0.6 to 0.4 ppm.
Comments from our Partner
"Using affordable inputs like molasses, minerals, and plastic buckets, it's possible to produce one liter of biofertilizer for just $0.50. The process takes only seven days," Mr. Francis Reyes, representative of BIOEM SAC, explains.
"The essence of true agriculture lies in understanding how the soil works. Microorganisms are the key to its health, productivity, and the quality of our food."
"The essence of true agriculture lies in understanding how the soil works. Microorganisms are the key to its health, productivity, and the quality of our food."
For further information, please contact:
BIOEM SAC
Torres Malarín 355, Pueblo Libre. Lima, Peru
Tel: +51 -943603740 / +51 - 952 086 694
email: administracion@bioem.com.pe
BIOEM SAC
Torres Malarín 355, Pueblo Libre. Lima, Peru
Tel: +51 -943603740 / +51 - 952 086 694
email: administracion@bioem.com.pe
Website: http://www.bioem.com.pe
(May 2025)
