Organic Spice Production

The cultivation of cinnamon in Cao Bang represents an impressive success story in the fight against poverty, significantly raising the standard of living for rural communities over the past three decades. However, this progress also brings challenges. The development has led to an intensive, monocultural approach in spice production, with cinnamon trees cultivated at an extremely high planting density of up to 15,000 trees per hectare to quickly form a dense canopy that displaces other plant species. While this intensive cultivation system yields short-term economic gains, it also causes significant ecological damage, such as soil erosion, loss of biodiversity, and an increased use of agrochemicals, which presents long-term economic risks. 

To ensure the long-term sustainability of cinnamon cultivation in Cao Bang, it is urgently necessary to establish a balance between economic interests and environmental protection and to introduce more sustainable and diversified agricultural practices that protect the unique ecosystem of the region and the livelihoods of its residents. 

The Spices Project aims to create a balance between economic growth and ecological responsibility. It focuses on sustainable, diversified cultivation systems that enhance biodiversity, thereby reducing vulnerability to market fluctuations and climate impacts, facilitating the transition to a climate-resilient agricultural landscape. 

To transform the province of Cao Bang into a climate-resilient biosphere, Helvetas collaborates closely with the German tea and spice company Cha Dô and the Vietnamese spice company DACE. Together, they are developing an ecological spice production system that combines sustainable land-use planning with measures to restore biodiversity.  

In cooperation with local planning authorities and communities, forest protection areas are being upgraded to biozones to create a species-rich biosphere. This conversion also supports the establishment of vegetation corridors that attract beneficial insects and pollinators, promote natural pest control, and enhance the landscape's resilience to climatic challenges. Furthermore, the restored habitats act as carbon sinks that mitigate the effects of greenhouse gas emissions while strengthening the landscape’s climate resilience. 

Practical training and the establishment of 20 demonstration plots with five main crops (ginger, chili, garlic, lemongrass, and turmeric) help farmers learn modern agroecological methods that build on traditional knowledge and are combined with innovative techniques. A key role is played by the further development of the "Mekong Farmers App," which serves as a digital training tool, providing farmers with real-time support for diversified spice production. 

By linking economic progress with sustainable development, Cao Bang has the opportunity to position itself as a leader in sustainable spice production, thereby solidifying the region’s reputation as a provider of high-quality, environmentally friendly spices. The project sets new standards for climate-resilient and ecologically sound agriculture and actively contributes to preserving and expanding the economic growth achieved through cinnamon cultivation, while ensuring that the benefits are equitably distributed among the various communities involved.