Regeneration as a business model for Nova Monda manifests in many different ways: in our commitment to building capacity in and amongst the communities where we purchase cacao; in the creation of a market for heirloom varieties of cacao that might otherwise become extinct; by creating a work environment built on communication, respect and accountability; and to our long term visions of integrating sail trade, creating a Regenerative Certification program, and employee ownership of our company.
We are currently partnering with several organizations in Belize and Ecuador, and of course with family farmers in Ecuador and Nicaragua. In Belize, we are working with the Maya Mountain Research Farm, where Rich and Gregory just spent several days. In Ecuador, we’ve partnered with three organizations; Eco-Cacao is the farmers cooperative through which our Nacional varietal cacao is purchased, Finka Aekolado is Nova Mondas flagship farm, and Red de Guardianes de Semillas is a local Ecuadorian/Colombian organization that hosts permaculture design and other educational courses, and also protects and propagates traditional, indigenous seed varieties.
We are also partnering with other chocolate companies such as Madre Chocolate in Hawaii, with farmers and producers cooperatives, and research institutions to share in the collaborative development of our Regenerative Certification program. We hope this program will allow us to move the conversation about cacao (and possibly more) beyond sustainability and into “regeneration”, much like our jar chocolate has taken us Beyond the Bar.
The regenerative certification program is very exciting and we envision it creating a new model for doing ethical business with a wide variety of partners. As with the diversity, cooperation and inter-connectedness of an intact rain forest, this regenerative certification addresses social, economic, and ecological issues resulting in a strong, diverse network of partners who are accountable to each other.
What is Regenerative? (PART 2)
Regeneration as a business model for Nova Monda manifests in many different ways: in our commitment to building capacity in and amongst the communities where we purchase cacao; in the creation of a market for heirloom varieties of cacao that might otherwise become extinct; by creating a work environment built on communication, respect and accountability; and to our long term visions of integrating sail trade, creating a Regenerative Certification program, and employee ownership of our company.
We are currently partnering with several organizations in Belize and Ecuador, and of course with family farmers in Ecuador and Nicaragua. In Belize, we are working with the Maya Mountain Research Farm, where Rich and Gregory just spent several days. In Ecuador, we’ve partnered with three organizations; Eco-Cacao is the farmers cooperative through which our Nacional varietal cacao is purchased, Finka Aekolado is Nova Mondas flagship farm, and Red de Guardianes de Semillas is a local Ecuadorian/Colombian organization that hosts permaculture design and other educational courses, and also protects and propagates traditional, indigenous seed varieties.
We are also partnering with other chocolate companies such as Madre Chocolate in Hawaii, with farmers and producers cooperatives, and research institutions to share in the collaborative development of our Regenerative Certification program. We hope this program will allow us to move the conversation about cacao (and possibly more) beyond sustainability and into “regeneration”, much like our jar chocolate has taken us Beyond the Bar.
The regenerative certification program is very exciting and we envision it creating a new model for doing ethical business with a wide variety of partners. As with the diversity, cooperation and inter-connectedness of an intact rain forest, this regenerative certification addresses social, economic, and ecological issues resulting in a strong, diverse network of partners who are accountable to each other.