Our work

We support local initiatives in establishing agroforestry-based agriculture successfully and permanently, assisting directly with practical implementation in the fields through regular trips to the project areas. We also advise and assist with the procurement of suitable technical aids and equipment. Our questionnaire is available for an initial assessment of a project proposal.

The target groups

The target groups for funding are small-scale farming and cooperative structures, as well as individual farms, training institutions, schools and families that want to adopt and further develop innovative approaches to agriculture. The project plans may relate to agricultural cultivation itself, further processing, or the manufacture of products in general. Economically viable value chains, ecologically oriented land use and agroforestry cultivation methods are key aspects for funding.

Good concept with committed people

No matter how well thought out a project may be and how coherent the concept, only when the people involved on the ground take up the ideas and suggestions and are convinced by them, will a dynamic emerge that triggers lasting developments. In our opinion, committed people who are open to new ideas are far more important in project work than beautifully worded applications and reports. We attach great importance to timely, regular and relevant communication and the exchange of ideas on important issues.

Financial support and expertise

Many projects require initial investments or start-up financing. After jointly analysing what resources are already available and how they can be used effectively, CardoVerde can provide appropriate financial support. In doing so, we encourage the testing and further development of new approaches as well as professional exchange among participants. This results in the transfer of valuable knowledge and provides impetus for development.

Promoting networking and further training

Gaining experience and sharing it with others, designing good projects that are successful and benefit all those involved is our approach. This brings together the individual strands of action and strengthens both confidence in one’s own abilities and mutual cooperation.

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How do we design cultivation so that the local resources result in efficient and resilient cultivation methods, good harvests, and a stronger community?
Not only should experience gained over time and proven techniques be passed on and shared, but so also seeds of promising species.
When the seeds of such species are sown and the resulting plants are tended, observing them opens a dialogue with nature. This is easier for local farmers to understand than some of the information found on paper or on the internet.

Technical equipment and tools

If people in a region have no experience with processing equipment, it is often not easy to find suitable machines and have them transported to the desired location. We facilitate and support the technical exchange with other initiatives that have already decided on a machine and gained experience with it.

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The machines should combine the following criteria with the aim of facilitating human work and increasing its efficiency:

Appropriate size and capacity in relation to the harvests possible at the location and the level of organisation of the people working there.
Robust and easy to repair.
Availability of spare parts and necessary tools for repair.

The use of more complex technology also requires careful consideration of the associated consequences: How does the service life or utilisation relate to the acquisition costs? Can good care and maintenance be guaranteed? Is it possible to save money from the work with the machine that can be used to finance its maintenance and, if necessary, subsequent replacement? In addition to the use of technical equipment, CardoVerde promotes the exchange of experiences with certain materials or techniques, such as UV-tolerant films, geomembranes for sealing ponds and the construction of ovens with clay.

Questionnaire for cooperation

Information on the ecological, economic and social conditions helps to classify the framework and thus to organise a possible collaboration more effectively. Our questionnaire was created for this purpose.

PDF: CardoVerde – Questionnaire for cooperation.pdf