During a recent visit to Heifer International’s programs in Guatemala, I witnessed proof of what I already know to be true: sustainable change in complex environments requires a collective effort.

As part of our Green Business Belt Signature Program, farmers (mostly women), cooperative members, municipal governments, local partners and Heifer staff work alongside one another in the lush, mountainous forests of Alta Verapaz, in central Guatemala, to transform the spice value chain to generate greater benefits for smallholder farming families in the area. The program prioritizes business, technical and social capital training led by local peer educators, in parallel with promoting agroforestry practices to increase spice farmers’ income while also safeguarding the environment.

Agroforestry — the practice of integrating trees and shrubs into animal and crop farming systems to mitigate soil erosion — is vital in this area, which has been hit hard by climate change and deforestation from conventional agriculture. The shared motivation behind this initiative was evident at the municipal nursery, where farmers gather to participate in agroforestry training against a backdrop of budding, green plants, then receive saplings and seedlings to start their own income-generating agroforestry systems across the region.

The global community can take a cue from this sustainable collective effort, as we grapple with a warming world and a need to protect the planet while urgently improving the livelihood prospects of agricultural communities. And I believe there are few things more important than partnering with the people on the front lines of this work: smallholder farmers.

Caring for the Earth is core to our mission and, every day, across 19 countries, we collaborate with local partners and farmers to conserve resources, advance sustainable agriculture and make climate adaptation more accessible. We don’t do it alone, because we can’t. Genuine change — toward a resilient environment, and toward more secure lives for farming families — is possible. But it requires a commitment from all of us.

With our spring 2024 Collection, I’m proud to share stories of farmers leading this transformation in Heifer’s project areas around the world. From reusing livestock waste and cultivating climate-resilient seeds, to embracing climate-smart techniques and becoming an example for the community, it’s the small things, done together, that make a big impact.

Yours in solidarity,

Surita Sandosham
@HeiferCEO