About us and our goals
CardoVerde Foundation gGmbH is a German NGO based in Munich. Our guiding principle is to “help people help themselves” in countries of the Global South. Instead of providing short-term emergency aid, CardoVerde has set itself the task of enabling local people to provide for themselves and their families in the long term through training and effective tools, as well as technical expertise and cooperation. The aim is to achieve a lasting improvement in living conditions and independence from third-party aid.
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The project work
Ideally, the projects should become seeds for further initiatives by passing on the experience gained as multipliers. With this in mind, CardoVerde works towards a network of successful partners, committed experts and financial supporters, and promotes the exchange of knowledge and cooperation among them. Within this framework, financial support can also be provided for the procurement of equipment and the establishment and expansion of suitable facilities.
The name CardoVerde
“Cardo” is the botanical name for “thistle” (in German “Distel”) and is linked to the name of the founder, Richard Distl. “Verde” stands for green and symbolises the pursuit of a sustainable and healthy way of life in our world. The green chlorophyll in leaves is the catalyst for photosynthesis, the fundamental renewable energy source of our world. It is the basis of every food chain and the air we breathe. CardoVerde aims to be a catalyst for processes leading to the self-determined development of local people, and for all those involved to share and enhance their experiences with each other in harmony with nature.
The project consultants Herwart Groll and Paul Bauer
Herwart Groll
Herwart Groll studied agriculture and, after spending his early career in plant breeding, worked for over five years in development cooperation in the Amazon region of Peru during the 1990s. After another five years at Misereor as a consultant for rural development in Amazonia and working for the food companies Tegut and Rapunzel in Germany, both at the interface between the cultivation of raw materials and their further processing, he has been involved in consulting and supporting CardoVerde projects since 2021.
Paul Bauer
Paul Bauer studied agricultural sciences and specialised in organic plant cultivation. Alongside his studies, he worked as a fruit tree pruner and gained practical experience in the field of perennial crops and tree care. Through several stays in various regions of Europe and Africa, he was able to gain insights into agroecological projects and sustainable cultivation systems. He has been working as a project consultant at CardoVerde since June 2024.
The founder Richard Distl
Richard Distl developed a new method for measuring light radiation as part of the “Jugend forscht” youth research competition in Germany and used it to found Instrument Systems GmbH in 1986, which became the technology leader in light measurement. After selling the company, Richard Distl and his family decided to get involved in philanthropic work and first established the Distl Family Foundation and then, in 2022, CardoVerde Foundation gGmbH for operational project work. The picture shows Richard Distl with his daughter Julia in one of the project areas.