Revitalizing the coconut market and restoring land in Guyana

Location & Region: Pomeroon Guyana, South America

Partner: Initiative 20X20

Implementers: Pomeroon Trading

System: Rural / Restoration

Pomeroon Trading is a sustainable coconut company in the Caribbean that restores degraded land with sustainable coconut farms. Since 2017, the company has restored around 350 hectares of degraded farmland on the northeastern coast of Guyana, a country historically known for high-quality agricultural products.

Central to Pomeroon's success is Climate Smart Agriculture, building a more resilient food system that produces more but pollutes less. Pomeroon, an Initiative 20x20 financial partner, prides itself on being a climate-sensitive enterprise. Facilities on the firm's Stoll Estate run on solar power, and Pomeroon has invested in natural mangrove and man-made flood defenses to adapt to sea-level rise and severe weather. The company restores degraded land to high-yielding coconut farm, meet rising demand for coconut products and helping tackle the region's food security problem. Pomeroon is an enterprise with a strong interest in the vitality of local communities. The company, which directly employs over 50 local people, has also constructed one of the Caribbean’s largest private coconut seedling nurseries to increase its overall productivity and accelerate its restoration work. The local smallholder coconut producers who work with Pomeroon can also access and use the nursery through a cooperative program. The company has also sponsored upgrades to two local primary schools and a women's empowerment seminar.

Pomeroon is an enterprise with a strong interest in the vitality of local communities. The company, which directly employs over 50 local people, has also constructed one of the Caribbean’s largest private coconut seedling nurseries to increase its overall productivity and accelerate its restoration work. The local smallholder coconut producers who work with Pomeroon can also access and use the nursery through a cooperative program.

After decades of degradation, Pomeroon knew that only biodiversity could restore the land to its former productivity. Restoration is a key aspect of Pomeroon's economic success. The company is now investing in processing facilities that can produce coconut water, coconut by-products, and spices, tapping into a coconut market that is growing 10% annually. The coconut water market alone could be worth $8.3 billion by 2023.

Its riverfront location also makes Pomeroon well-positioned to access export markets, including the growing North American coconut water market and other Caribbean-focused markets. By adding value to its raw products, Pomeroon is creating an ecologically and economically sustainable business model that restores degraded land and turns a profit.

Read more here