Chapter 8: An Economic Model to Develop Sustainable Brazil Production in Peru

Brazil nuts have, for long, been an important product for native communities in the Peruvian Amazon. Through a partnership with AFIMAD—a cooperative of nine native communities in the Madre de Dios region—and Not For Sale, a global nongovernmental organization (NGO), indigenous communities have been able to create longer-term financial opportunities in Brazil nut harvesting, making them vulnerable to situations of exploitation. Brazil nut harvesters (castañeros) in the communities can sell what they collect from surrounding forest areas to AFIMAD, who, in turn, sell them to international distribution companies.

In the case of a Not For Sale example, indigenous communities sell to the company Candor. Once Candor processes the raw Brazil nuts, they are exported to California and some are sold for use in REBBL tea beverages—a company that Not For Sale cocreated. Since 2.5% of the proceeds from every REBBL beverage go back to Not For Sale’s ongoing support for the harvester communities, this value chain represents a circular economy.