Sustainable Production and Supply
Honoring the Roots of Medicine
We promote harvesting, cultivation, and production practices that respect biodiversity and are fair to communities of origin.
The goal
To develop and promote practices aimed at achieving a responsible and sustainable supply of therapeutic preparations.
Growing interest in these therapies carries significant responsibility. If not managed properly, it can lead to the overexploitation of plant species and the misuse of ancestral knowledge. Our role here is to act as stewards of sustainability: we research and promote quality standards and management models that ensure the growth of these practices does not destroy their origins. We work to establish a strong ethical and ecological foundation for everyone participating in this ecosystem.
Our plan
The map we visualize
Phase 1: Diagnosis and Design
We study the current landscape to design effective strategies. We work with Indigenous organizations and traditional healers to learn from their knowledge. We design targeted biodiversity studies to understand the status of plant species. We gather information on existing practices, traditional knowledge, and relevant scientific research.
Phase 2: Development
We create the tools and protocols required for sustainable management. We conduct biodiversity inventories to map existing resources. We collaborate in the participatory design of sustainable management plans for the species used in therapies. We develop standardized protocols for therapeutic preparations, ensuring quality and safety.
Phase 3: Implementation and Monitoring
We put plans into practice and ensure their proper execution. We promote and monitor the application of participatory management plans within communities. We support the establishment of nurseries in Andean and Amazonian regions to reduce pressure on wild populations. We implement an experimental laboratory for the standardization and production of preparations.
Facing the obstacles
The challenges
Here we outline the challenges we face and how we are overcoming them step by step.
KEY CHALLENGE
Ensuring sustainable biodiversity management
The context
Increasing demand can deplete plant species if cultivation and harvesting practices are not sustainable and respectful of ecosystems.
Our progress
We have established a letter of intent with the Institute of Pharmacological and Biochemical Research (IIFB) at UMSA and have prepared an initial batch of extracts for laboratory analysis.
Our next step
To continue preparing extracts for analysis and develop protocols for managing plants in controlled environments, with high quality standards.
KEY CHALLENGE
Verifying and characterizing botanical sources
The context
To ensure safety and efficacy, it is essential to know precisely which species are being used, where they come from, and their composition—avoiding confusion or adulteration.
Our progress
We have held meetings with traditional healers and Indigenous leaders to identify extraction areas and plan cultivation projects in experimental plots.
Our next step
To conduct field visits to verify species presence, collect information for biodiversity inventories, and take samples for analysis.
Frequently asked questions
Here we answer some of the most common questions about this area of our work.
I have a questionDoes Ser Ajayu cultivate or produce its own medicines?
No. Our role is not to be a producer, but a facilitator. We research, develop quality standards, and collaborate with communities and other actors to help them implement sustainable and responsible practices. We are a research and support center—not a production company.
How do you ensure that work with Indigenous communities is fair?
Collaboration is based on mutual respect and recognition of communities’ sovereignty over their knowledge. All our projects are designed participatively, ensuring that communities are active partners in planning and directly benefit from the sustainable management of their resources.
What does a “quality standard” mean for these preparations?
A quality standard means ensuring the consistency, safety, and purity of each preparation. This is achieved through laboratory analysis to verify chemical composition, together with controlled protocols at every stage of the process—from cultivation and harvesting to final preparation.
As a therapy participant, why is sustainability important to me?
It is essential for two reasons. First, it ensures that the product you receive is safe, effective, and of known composition. Second, it ensures that your personal healing process does not cause harm to the environment or to the communities that have protected this knowledge for generations.
