Developing Solutions
Developing Solutions focuses on identifying, developing, and testing innovative solutions that can improve the quality of life and sustainability of rural communities in developing countries. Through a growing number of initiatives and projects in Costa Rica and Guatemala, the team has implemented models focused on different areas including sustainable agriculture and natural resource management, technological innovation, entrepreneurship and job creation, inclusion and social equity and climate change.
We advance food security and sovereignty, and sustainable management and regeneration of natural resources – water, soil, and biodiversity – through best agricultural practices, resilient farming, and community participation.
We promote new models and approaches for developing new skills with children, youth, and adults to improve quality of life and strengthen people’s commitment to their communities.
We build practical and interactive models to strengthen climate change adaptation, mitigation, and resilience among farmers, youth, and community stakeholders in rural areas.
We foster inclusion and equity for vulnerable populations in rural communities through a comprehensive approach that empowers and develops leadership skills and provides opportunities for community growth with a positive environmental impact.
We create new models that use precision agriculture, alternative energy, and other technologies along with hands-on approaches to equip farmers with the knowledge and tools they need to improve farm management and sustainable production.
The reality for many rural producers in Costa Rica and Guatemala is marked by constant challenges: climate change threatens their crops, unequal markets deny them fair prices, and weak organizational structures limit their chances of progress. The project Resilient Agrifood Systems (RAS) works directly with producer organizations to transform these challenges into opportunities.
Through practical and innovative solutions, RAS promotes sustainable agriculture as a key tool for development. This project has enabled the validation of tools and processes in different cultural and socioeconomic contexts, demonstrating that change is possible when solutions are built from within.
Countries: Guatemala & Costa Rica
Start: 2020 Costa Rica / 2021 Guatemala
End: 2026
Donor: Walmart Foundation
Strategic partners:
Guatemala:
- Cooperative La Voz que Clama en el Desierto (The Voice Crying in the Desert)
- CORCI Association
- Oxlajuj E Women’s Association
- Cooperative Mok’aj Samajela (Commercial branch of the Comité Campesino del Altiplano, CCDA)
- Cooperative Copejaay (Commercial branch of the Consortium)
Costa Rica:
- Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock
- Costa Rica Por Siempre Association
- Fundecooperación
Partnership for Good
This initiative, supported by Fyffes and CARE with EARTH Futures as the implementing partner, aims to improve the lives of rural women in fruit-producing communities in Costa Rica. The project focuses on three pillars: gender equality, livelihoods, and nutrition. It addresses challenges such as lack of economic opportunities, unpaid labor, food insecurity, gender-based violence, and climate vulnerability. To address these issues, the project will implement Farmer Field and Business Schools (FFBS) training in leadership, farmer’s rights, sustainable production, nutrition, and entrepreneurship, as well as advance the promotion of women-led microenterprises and community gardens.
Country: Costa Rica
Start: 2025
End: 2026
Donor: Fyffes
Strategic partners: CARE Guatemala
Nourishing the Future IV
Empowering women in agriculture is key to transforming rural communities and building a more equitable future. Recognizing their potential as leaders and agents of change, Nurturing the Future IV is a project that works to improve the livelihoods of smallholder women farmers and microentrepreneurs.
Through opportunities that strengthen their ability to generate income and lead change within their families and communities, this program places gender equity at the heart of its mission, driving shifts that elevate the role of women in agriculture and paving the way for more inclusive and dynamic rural economies.
Countries: Honduras, Guatemala & Costa Rica
Start: 2022
End: 2025
Donor: Cargill
Strategic partner: CARE International
REAL (Rural Entrepreneurship in Agricultural Livelihoods) Project
In Guatemala, small-scale farmers face the daily challenge of sustaining their crops and improving their families’ lives. The project Rural Entrepreneurship in Agricultural Livelihoods (REAL) was created to support them on this journey.
Through personalized training and technical mentoring, REAL strengthens farmer producer organizations by developing new business skills that facilitate access to inclusive and sustainable markets. The project aims to empower communities by creating connections between producers and local partners, enabling them to transform their agricultural practices into development opportunities.
Country: Guatemala
Start: 2022
End: 2024
Donors: U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) through ANDE (Aspen Network of Development Entrepreneurs) and the Argidius Foundation.
Strategic partners: Vivamos Mejor Association, Anacafé, and Funcafé.
Strengthening the social fabric of rural communities in Sololá, Guatemala, is the central goal of the project Resiliency Through Egg Production (RTEP). This initiative empowers women from vulnerable areas while contributing to food security and income diversification through the establishment of production units that allow them to market eggs within a fair value chain.
Training in financial management, hen care, gender equity, and food security enables them to lead sustainable businesses, ensure their families’ well-being, and become agents of change in their communities.
The impact of RTEP extends beyond the participants’ households because each productive unit generates income, fosters cooperation, and strengthens rural economies. In this way, families gain greater access to food and resources while building an inclusive and replicable development model — demonstrating that when women are supported and empowered, positive change multiplies, contributing to a more equitable future.
Country: Guatemala
Start: 2023
End: 2024
Donor: Cargill
Strategic partners:
- CORCI, Pea farmers’ organization
- Oxlajuj E Women’s Association
- Coopejaay.
The future of agriculture depends on young people with innovative skills, solid technical knowledge, and a sustainable vision. That is why the project New Skills for Future of Agriculture was created, with the goal of transforming the education of students from Technical Professional Schools (CTPs) by showing them how agriculture can be a field full of opportunities.
Through a hybrid training model, the program combines precision agriculture, entrepreneurship, and socio-emotional development, preparing them to meet the demands of a constantly evolving sector. It also promotes leadership, conflict resolution, and critical thinking, equipping them with practical tools that enable them to stand out in the job market, create impact, and contribute to the development of strong and responsible communities.
Country: Costa Rica
Start: 2021
End: 2024
Donor: Inter-American Development Bank (IDB)
Strategic partners: Innovation Lab of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDBLab) and the Ministry of Public Education (MEP).
Impact
hectares are under an improved conservation framework and/or with improved sustainable management practices
million invested and leveraged in these solutions
models developed or in progress
direct and indirect beneficiaries
Our Partners
The challenges facing rural areas are complex, and at EARTH Futures we know that we can only overcome them by working hand in hand with others. We collaborate with a diverse and growing network of allies who share our passion, vision and values.
