Year: 2025
Partner School: Cornell University
Community Partner: Siendo Naturaleza
Category: Sustainable Agriculture
Problem: Siendo Naturaliza is a regenerative farming organization in Peru with the mission of improving farming practices to regenerate lost rain forest due to deforestation. Their mission includes not only reestablishing forested lands, but also connecting people with the land. They were seeking ways to sustainably reforest areas of Peru, a process which involves soil rejuvenation, replanting, and establishing a welcoming environment for native plants to regrow. But regeneration is complex, and the process of restoring land to a mature forest is a long and labor intensive process.
Solution: Students proposed planting turmeric as a way to rejuvenate the soil. This valuable crop loosens compacted soil, provides an income-producing crop, and assists in native plant regrowth. This process involves cutting down invasive grasses, planting and harvesting turmeric, and then allowing nature to do the rest. The harvested turmeric can be dried and turned into valuable turmeric tea.