The Ecuadorian government announced on April 8 the allocation of $450,000 to six Amazonian producer organizations. The funding, provided through the Forest and Farm Facility (FFF) and implemented with the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in Ecuador, aims to support sustainable production initiatives that balance ecosystem conservation with local economic growth.
The initiative is designed to strengthen value chains, enhance productive capacity, and expand market access for Amazonian products such as cacao, guayusa, Amazonian cinnamon, and macambo. Each organization may receive up to $100,000. The approach combines responsible production practices with ancestral knowledge to generate sustainable income without harming forest integrity.
Inés María Manzano, Minister of Environment and Energy, said: “Ecuador da hoy un paso más hacia la bioeconomía. Con la entrega de estos fondos, fortalecemos el liderazgo y la innovación de organizaciones que demuestran que es posible promover la prosperidad mientras se conserva nuestra biodiversidad.”
Since 2019, this mechanism has mobilized over $4.6 million in Ecuador. It has directly benefited 14,600 rural families and promoted good practices across more than 211,000 hectares. Nearly half of beneficiaries are women and 75% identify as members of Indigenous peoples or nationalities.
Gherda Barreto, FAO representative in Ecuador said: “Esta apuesta busca que las organizaciones lideren la protección de sus ecosistemas. No se trata solo de recursos financieros, sino de fortalecer capacidades para que los productos amazónicos lleguen a más mercados bajo un enfoque de sostenibilidad.”
Beneficiary organizations include Asociación Wiñak; ASOPROMAS; UNOCACE; Asociación Kallari; Corporación de Asociaciones de la Chakra Amazónica; and Asociación Tsapau. They will use the funds for activities ranging from traceability and value addition to financial education programs for youth in the Amazon region and revitalization of traditional knowledge.
With this disbursement of funds, Ecuador continues its strategy linking forest conservation with concrete economic opportunities by positioning bioeconomy as a key component for the future development of its Amazon region.
