Brazil | Smallholder farmers
Raiar Orgânicos: How a Brazilian pioneer helps farmers and biodiversity thrive
Brazil holds enormous potential to make agriculture more sustainable. Yet organic food production accounts for only 0.2% of the market. Small-scale farmers in land settlements often lack access to financing, knowledge, and reliable markets. Without support, they remain trapped in a cycle of low income and degraded land. Founded in 2020, Raiar Orgânicos is determined to break that cycle. Their mission is clear: “Orgânico é o caminho sem volta” – organic is the way forward. Raiar started with an ambitious idea: not just producing organic eggs, but transforming the entire supply chain – from grain to egg. After all, without organic corn and soy, there’s no organic feed, and therefore no organic eggs.
The approach: from soil to table
Through its FOLIO platform, Raiar provides farmers with technical assistance, knowledge sharing, and certification support. In a pilot project, they are helping 46 smallholder farmers convert 200 hectares of degraded land into organic grain production. Raiar also purchases these grains under forward contracts, giving farmers price and market security and removing one of their biggest risks: uncertainty.
Raiar is also scaling up production: from 20,000 hens in 2020 to 320,000 today, with plans to reach 2 million hens. Their farms are fully cage-free, prioritize animal welfare, and operate without antibiotics or hormones. The goal? A revolution in a sector where 90% of eggs still come from caged hens.
The role of Rabo Foundation
Rabo Foundation plays an important role in making this transformation possible. With a working capital loan and funding for technical assistance and certification, we support farmers through the critical early years of transitioning to organic farming—when soils are being restored and strict certification requirements must be met. This support helps them overcome initial negative cash flows during soil recovery and crop conversion, making organic farming financially viable.
Impact that matters
The impact is significant: farmers’ incomes can increase up to fivefold, while degraded land is transformed into fertile, biodiverse ecosystems. Reduced pesticide use, cleaner water, and healthier soils contribute to a better environment.