German Cooperative Funds Deployed for Sustainable Development in Brazil

Since January, the GESTE Foundation has been supporting a new project to strengthen agricultural cooperatives and energy cooperatives in Brazil. What is special is that for the first time, funds from German cooperatives are being contributed through GESTE to the project otherwise financed by the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and implemented by the DGRV. This is an important step that highlights the partnership between GESTE and DGRV and significantly increases the impact of the project work on the ground.

Our funding focuses on two areas. First, organizations of small farmers in northern and southern Brazil are being supported. Despite different regional contexts, they face similar challenges, particularly in accessing sales and financial markets and in building stable, participatory, and sustainable organizational and business models. Project funds are being used to expand educational and advisory services for agricultural cooperatives and other forms of cooperation and their networks.

A second focus is on supporting energy cooperatives. Many of these cooperatives are young, small, and volunteer-led, facing the challenge of professionalizing and developing sustainably. The DGRV's advisory program, in which the GESTE Foundation participates, focuses on educational and advisory services for business development and the exploration of new business areas. This is complemented by exchange with the energy cooperative sector in Germany, including specialized programs and short-term assignments of German experts in Brazil.

In addition, the DGRV's competence center for renewable energy in Latin America is being established in Brazil. It will strengthen knowledge and experience exchange within the region and between Brazil and Germany. The GESTE Foundation is also contributing project funds here.

With this project, the GESTE Foundation combines cooperative engagement in Germany with sustainable impact in international partnerships – for strong communities and a sustainable future.

Case Study: Circular Economy in the Amazon – CUIA and Biofertilizer

Part of our joint work is the collaboration with CUIA, a network of agricultural cooperatives in the Amazon region.

CUIA transforms waste from fruit juice production – peels, seeds, pulp – into high-quality organic fertilizer. This innovative use of residues improves soil quality, reduces costs for family farms, promotes agroecological agriculture, and strengthens regional autonomy.

The collaboration with CUIA impressively demonstrates what cooperative innovation can achieve: turning waste into a sustainable product for the future.

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