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Water Conservation through Organic Farming
CRACYP News, December 2009
The organic management of the sugar cane plantations contributes effectively to the conservation of water in the western cordillera of the Andes in Ecuador.  We have calculated that the 187 producers in the communities of CADO are responsible for the conservation of about 4000 litres of water a minute for the rivers in the area.  We can conclude that the fair trade production of alcohol in the cordillera could be an important reference point for water conservation in other Latin American countries such as Peru and Bolivia if this example was replicated.

New Radio Programme
CRACYP News, December 2009
CRACYP started a new twice-weekly radio programme from December, with the aim of extending knowledge to local farmers for the effective management of organic agriculture in the area of our sugar cane producing communities.  The programme complements the organic management of sugar cane for the production of organic alcohol, aiming to improve the quality of the finished product.    The export of alcohol to The Body Shop (an international chain using community trade products to produce ecological cosmetics in Europe and the rest of the world) is running successfully with quality meeting the strict requirements of the perfume industry.

Organic Certification Renewed
CRACYP News, December 2009
CADO, which is the biggest organic community enterprise in the area, effectively complied with the rules for the renewal of organic certification for its sugar cane plantations and distilleries from the certifier BCS Öko Garantie.  CADO also managed to include 85 new families in the exportation process.  The compliance of these new families with the regulations was achieved thanks to the effective work carried out by the technicians and the team in the communities, with an important display of effort invested by 12 communities in the provinces of Cotopaxi and Bolivar. 

Volunteers Achieve Great Results
CRACYP News, November 2009
CRACYP is responsible for the management in Ecuador of volunteers from Global Routes, an organization that sends young volunteers from the United States.  In 2009, we have received various groups to help the communities of: Bosque de Oro, La Chongona, La Cadena and Tabanal Chico.  Amongst the most important work they carried out in the communities we must emphasise the construction and fitting out of the Health SubCentre for the Seguro Campesino in Bosque de Oro.  This centre now has basic equipment for emergency medical attention.  It will serve more than 500 farming families in  San Luis de Pambíl and the surrounding area.  This and other smaller works have been a great result of effective help from the Global Routes volunteers for the the communities in the area of San Luis de Pambíl.

Sustainable Development Internships
CRACYP News, October 2009
Internships in sustainable rural development are now available with CRACYP in our sugar cane farming communities.  So many development students have requested the chance to gain experience in fields such as sustainable agriculture, ecotourism and community development that we will now be accepting interns to help on current projects and experience the reality of working in rural development.  More details of sustainable development internship program.

Rural Development Work Recognised
CRACYP News, August 2009
The Ecuadorian Government has asked Carlos Cabrera to consult for them and he is now part of the Council for Equality of People which is developing equality policies for the different cultures recognised in the country.  Carlos was invited to be one of the 12 members in recognition of the importance of his work in the field as Executive Secretary of CRACYP and Founding Manager of CADO in sustainable development, organic production for export and the management of community enterprises, strategies which are important for Ecuador´s future.

First Container of Community Organic Alcohol
CRACYP News, July 2009
The first container of CADO´s fairly-traded, community-produced alcohol with organic certification set sail this week after a ten-year struggle.  It went to L´Oreal in Europe for use in perfumes.  CADO is the first organization in the world to export this type of alcohol, produced in the foothills of the Andes, conserving the environment and water sources, and paying a fair price to the farming families who are the members of the project.

Good Results for the PROTTAR Project
CRACYP News, July, 2009
The PROTTAR transfer of agricultural technology project closed with excellent results for the communities.  For example, the organic certification of around 500 hectares of old-growth, fine quality cacao forests was achieved.  This is with the objective of producing a new product for export, an organic, community-produced, chocolate liqueur.  Because of the positive results, we are hoping that the project will be continued and are waiting to hear news of this from the State soon.  

Internships in Sustainable Development a Possibility
CRACYP News, June, 2009
After receiving various requests to do an internship with CRACYP, we are considering the idea.  There may be the possibility of an internship program to complement the volunteer opportunities we already offer.  If you are studying sustainable development, organic agriculture or a similar subject and are interested in taking an internship with us, write to volunteer@progresoverde.org. 

Galapagos Project Delayed
CRACYP News, May, 2009
Our ecosystem rescue project in Galapagos is still not moving forward.  We are continuing with various bureaucratic challenges, but so far we still cannot accept volunteers in the Galapagos Islands or start the project.  When we have more news, it will be published here.

Agricultural Technology Transfer Continues
CRACYP News, April, 2009
The PROTTAR project continues with the transfer of agricultural technology to local communities.  22 agricultural and livestock technicians working for CRACYP are out in the field training farmers in the management of crops such as rice, cacao, maize, sugarcane, cattle, baby bananas and plantain.  Much of the work is focused on organic production for the food security of the country, as promoted in Ecuador´s new constitution.

First Fair Price Sale of Organic Community Alcohol
CRACYP News, February 2009
The purchase has started!  The members of CADO have received their first "fair price" cheques for their organic alcohol production.  As one of the ladies told us, for just one tank of alcohol, the difference in price is enough to buy her son a school uniform.  So the fair price is already changing lives.  A great businessman, Don Camilo Jarrín, has kindly helped us out with a trailer in which to store the aguardiente before transporting it to the rectification plant.  Without this philanthropic gesture, we would not be able to achieve this success, and we are very grateful for his support.

Another Step Forward Towards the Sale of Organic Alcohol
CRACYP News, February 2009
CADO has obtained an operating capital loan from Root Capital.  This will allow us to process and export our organic, community-produced alcohol.  We have found a market at a fair price and are just waiting for the first purchase order and a mountain of paperwork.  The families have struggled for many years to achieve certification and invest in quality improvements, and now they are all eagerly awaiting their first "fair price" payments.