Selected
Resilient Ecosystems

El Cruce de las Rocas (formerly BioMio)

An innovative model that creates a fair market for rural landholders by transforming and adding-value to local biodiveristy.

Team Leader
Alexandra Posada
An innovative model that creates a fair market for rural landholders by transforming and adding-value to local biodiveristy.

The Problem

In the valley of Río Blanco, Colombia, farmers live in poverty. Lack of market access and poor infrastructure denies them a secure income. Younger generations migrate to the city, and farmers are unable to plan for the future.

The Solution

By transforming local fruits, tubers and herbs into natural wines and spirits, El Cruce de las Rocas creates high added value products from local biodiversity. This creates a unique local offer for fine dining establishments and bars that creates pride of place, a niche market and avoids the chronic obstacles in developing nations that prevent small landholders from entering the market. We avoid food loss by transforming harvest that were no longer being sold in the market. We strengthen fruit forests and ecosystems by guaranteeing an income for their harvests. And through innovation we generate a sense of pride and high income opportunities for vulnerable communities by working hand in hand in the art of local fermentation and artisanal distillation.

Stats

El Cruce de las Rocas works with 610 producers and their family members, transforming local ingredients into commercial products.

What is the name of your organization?
BioMio
What is the name of your solution?
El Cruce de las Rocas (formerly BioMio)
Provide a one-line summary or tagline for your solution.
An innovative model that creates a fair market for rural landholders by transforming and adding-value to local biodiveristy.
In what city, town, or region is your solution team headquartered?
Choachi
In what country is your solution team headquartered?
—
What type of organization is your solution team?
For-Profit
Film your elevator pitch.
—
What specific problem are you solving?
In the valley of Río Blanco, Colombia, farmers live in poverty. Lack of market access and poor infrastructure denies them a secure income. Younger generations migrate to the city, and farmers are unable to plan for the future.
What is your solution?
By transforming local fruits, tubers and herbs into natural wines and spirits, El Cruce de las Rocas creates high added value products from local biodiversity. This creates a unique local offer for fine dining establishments and bars that creates pride of place, a niche market and avoids the chronic obstacles in developing nations that prevent small landholders from entering the market. We avoid food loss by transforming harvest that were no longer being sold in the market. We strengthen fruit forests and ecosystems by guaranteeing an income for their harvests. And through innovation we generate a sense of pride and high income opportunities for vulnerable communities by working hand in hand in the art of local fermentation and artisanal distillation.
Who does your solution serve, and in what ways will the solution impact their lives?
We work with a growing network of rural artisanal distillers and farmers. With distillers we work in association, sharing the income generated which represents a 600% increase in their previous income. With farmers we guarantee purchase of their harvest at a fair price, generating significant additional income and ensuring the conservations of fruit forests and other ecosystems. We have grown a strong bond with local independent recyclers by purchasing all of our bottles from then at a 800% premium than what they get paid for at recycling centers in the city. And we generate work and additional income in rural communities through the processing of fruit for fermentation.

Organization Type:
For-Profit

Headquarters:
Choachi, Colombia

Stage:
Pilot

Working In:
Colombia

Solution Website:
www.biomio.com.co

Solution Team:
Alexandra Posada
Alexandra Posada
CEO BioMio