The Durian Project
The Foundation is spearheading a “Durian Revolution” in Venezuela.
The unusual, popular and commercially-viable Durian fruit is originally from southeast Asia and the Foundation may have the only producing trees in Venezuela.
There is a growing global demand for durian and we want Venezuela to join the supply side of this unique, beneficial, and lucrative crop, known as “the king of fruits.”
We have producing durian trees and our plan is to turn durian into a sustainable economic engine for the small-scale, local campesino farmers all around us.
Our goal is to integrate durian plantings into the Venezuelan agricultural economy, focusing on small campesino farmers.
- Due to the extremely short viability of durian seeds and the long lead time to durian production (8+ years), the Durian has not yet been broadly introduced in the neotropics.
- Our durian plantings of over 30 years confirm that durian can grow and produce well in Venezuela.
- The trees are slow to grow but once established, have proven resistant to pests and diseases.
- The Durian Project now has active sustainable production (yield of fruit) from second-generation durian trees.
- Having established a durian beachhead, we are expanding this program in fertile areas well suited to this commercial crop of great potential.
Benefits
Farmers and campesinos in Northeastern Venezuela are beginning to plant and harvest durian as part of their agricultural practice.
They are proactively embracing durian as a cash crop that puts food on their tables.
- Durian contributes to Venezuela’s economic recovery as a cash crop with a viable long-term economic potential – a hot-weather crop proven resistant to climate change
- Durian supports new income streams for low-income families who embrace the opportunity to grow and sell this desirable fruit.
- Durian tree farms are an attractive alternative to conventional agri-practices like slash and burn. Tree culture promotes reforestation and carbon sequestration.
- Durian offers a fruit with exceptional nutritional value for human consumption, including high percentages of protein, vitamins, and antioxidants.
- Durian provides the Foundation with a potential future revenue stream to help fund our ongoing educational, family planning, and humanitarian programs serving the poorest of the poor.
The Opportunity
- A young durian tree can yield 50+ fruit per year. In full production, a mature tree carries 300+ fruit per year.
- Average price of a durian fruit in Venezuela is currently $20 to $30 USD. This represents more than one week’s wages for a campesino farmer.
- Production and revenue can begin approximately 8 years after planting.
- Venezuela is strategically located close to the growing durian markets in the U.S., Canada, and Latin America.
About Durian
The durian is originally from Southeast Asia, where it is considered the “King of Fruits.” Market predictions value the global Durian market as high as USD $24.9 billion in 2023 with the global market surpassing USD $49.9 billion by 2033. The durian markets in the US, Canada and Latin America are currently supplied by exports from distant Southeast Asia.
Durian is one of the healthiest and most nutritious fruits in the world,
with antioxidants and other healthy plant compounds that can help reduce
the risk of cancer, heart disease, and high blood sugar.
Nutritionally, one cup (243 grams) of pulp delivers 9 grams of Fiber, 4 grams of Protein, and high percentages of Daily Value: Vitamin C 80%, Thiamine 61%, Vitamin B6 38%, Potassium 30%, Riboflavin 29%, Copper 25%, Folate 22%, Magnesium 18%, Niacin 13%.
https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/durian-fruit – nutrition
Durian’s unique promise for climate-change resistance lies in its predilection for hot climate. Durian trees are well-suited for the hotter, wetter climate that is Venezuela’s future, especially in the country’s fertile lowlands. Because Durian can generate higher income for small farmers compared to other crops, these farmers are incented to shift away from the deforestation associated with slash-and-burn ground crops. Durian tree farms increase carbon sequestration.
Our Durian Project follows IPCC (the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) recommendations.
We’re planting durian forests in already-cleared land and replacing slash-and-burn farming with permanent fruit forests. We’re helping Venezuela take previously deforested land and transform it into durian forests using organic farming, for increased carbon sequestration.
