Food Security

Promoting biodiversity for resilient, sustainable nourishment

At Maya Mountain Research Farm, we view biodiversity as the foundation of food security. As both a research and training center, MMRF demonstrates how ecological diversity ensures long-term stability, productivity, and resilience. Most of the food we eat is produced right on the land, and since 2004, our surplus harvests have supported the elderly feeding program in Punta Gorda Town—providing fresh, nutritious meals through our partnership with Helping Older People Equally and the help of MMRF interns.

Food security means everyone has reliable access to safe, nutritious food. In our systems, that security begins with diversity. A farm rich in species diversity is more stable and waste-free—every byproduct becomes a resource for another cycle. This interconnectedness creates resilience against pests, weather extremes, and market fluctuations, ensuring both ecological and economic balance.

Diverse farms also provide better nutrition. When multiple crops and varieties grow together, they supply a wider range of nutrients and calories than a single-crop system. Polycultures require less external energy but greater ecological understanding, mirroring the complexity of natural ecosystems. By designing with nature rather than against it, we build systems that sustain both people and the planet.

Species diversity also protects livelihoods. If one crop fails or prices fall, others still provide food or income. Within our agroforestry systems, valuable species like cacao, vanilla, and mahogany offer both ecological benefits and long-term security.

Agroforestry

Cultivating harmony between forest and farm

At Maya Mountain Research Farm, agroforestry is at the heart of everything we do. By integrating trees, crops, and animals within the same landscape, we create a living system that mimics the diversity and balance of a natural forest. Our tropical food forest hosts hundreds of plant species—each playing a role in soil restoration, carbon sequestration, and habitat creation. This regenerative approach not only produces food and income but also strengthens the surrounding ecosystem, ensuring the land remains abundant and resilient for future generations.

Cacao & Vanilla

Cultivating flavor, resilience, and regeneration

Our cacao and vanilla are more than crops—they’re part of a living ecosystem. Grown within diverse agroforestry systems, these valuable plants thrive under the canopy of fruit and timber trees, enriching the soil and supporting biodiversity. Each harvest reflects a balance between ecological stewardship and sustainable livelihood, showing how regenerative farming can produce both premium-quality products and long-term environmental benefits.

The ripple effects of a diverse ecosystem extend beyond our farm. Polycultures help sequester carbon, support pollinators, create wildlife habitats, and preserve soil and water resources across the watershed. They also serve as living seed banks for indigenous species.

Globally, agriculture is losing its biological and cultural diversity. As industrial systems replace traditional ones, communities become dependent on imported inputs and lose local knowledge. MMRF works to reverse this trend by teaching and demonstrating food production methods that are sustainable, locally adapted, and culturally rooted—ensuring that future generations inherit both fertile land and the wisdom to care for it.