*This article is part of a series by EES consultant Hannah Fried-Petersen, highlighting projects that prioritize environmental efforts. This piece focuses on Costa Rica, often recognized as a leader in sustainability.*
Traditional cattle farming and monocultures of melons, rice, sugarcane and teak dominate the landscape in the Guanacaste region of Costa Rica. Rainfall in this part of the country is very seasonal, with pronounced wet and dry seasons. Challenges with both water stress and water excess have restricted what farmers in the region believe can be profitable. Los Canelos farm is trying to change that perception.
Farm background & mission
The Ajoy Li family purchased the farm in 2001. It is 18 hectares (44 acres) making it a medium-sized farm for the region and until 2018 it was largely dominated by aloe for export, and secondary growth forest. Head agronomist Luis Araya has since shifted focus, and the farm now boasts over 30 different crops, many of which were believed not to be suitable for the region (ex: cacao, coffee, vanilla, avocado). The majority of the secondary growth forest has intentionally been left intact and hosts troops of howler monkeys and other animals while protecting the two streams that run through the farm.
This system of polyculture, which is the practice of growing multiple crop species in the same place at the same time, has a multitude of benefits including: 1) natural soil regeneration, 2) biological control of plagues and pests, and 3) reducing water consumption and dependence on fertilizers. With over 30 years of experience working with one of the main monoculture crops in Costa Rica, banana, Mr. Araya was familiar with the drawbacks and challenges of monoculture systems, and a perfect person to see how polyculture can solve some of those problems.
"The practice of intensive agriculture based on agrochemicals is not sustainable in the long run.
In monocultures, we see how pests and diseases become more aggressive each year, while agrochemicals lose effectiveness due to resistance issues."
-Luis Araya, head agronomist
Blue Flag program & current sustainability initiatives
In addition to emphasizing the importance of crop diversity, Los Canelos prioritizes sustainability in many other areas and in 2023, the farm was awarded the Blue Flag (Bandera Azul) certification for sustainable agriculture. This program started in 1996 and was established to promote sustainable practices across various sectors. It now includes 14 categories, of which sustainable agriculture is one. Evaluation is based on the following categories: water management, soil conservation, agricultural inputs, waste disposal, energy use, fossil fuel use, climate change adaptation, and social impact.
This Blue Flag certification requires an annual report, which has been helpful for seeing where improvements have been and can be made. Some recent sustainability initiatives on the farm include production of organic fertilizer, construction of a greenhouse, composting, decreasing water usage through drip irrigation and cover crops, choosing low-impact products, and using low-till methods.
Outreach and education are central to Los Canelos’ mission and a key criterion of the Blue Flag program. The farm will soon sell produce to local restaurants, hotels, and a farmers market in nearby Sámara, a popular beach town, reducing reliance on distant suppliers and expanding organic options in the region. Recently, Los Canelos has hosted workshops for local farmers on organic fertilizer, honey production, and greenhouse crop adaptation, promoting biodiversity and sustainability. The farm aims to become a regional hub for research and education.
Hannah Fried-Petersen, a sustainability consultant at EES, supports Los Canelos with sustainability initiatives and Blue Flag reporting. For more information about Los Canelos, Blue Flag, or sustainability consulting, contact hannah@eesolutions.net.