Agave Agribusiness in Madagascar
Mad About Regeneration
Our Projects
Agave Livestock Feed
Agave Spirits
Agave Agroforestry
Habitat Restoration
“The Spiny Forest of Madagascar is truly astonishing… Much of this strange forest has now been cut down and replaced by farmland, savannah, and uniform rows of sisal [agave] plants, the leaves of which are used to produce industrial fibre… That makes the patches of spiny forest that have so far survived all the more precious.” — Sir David Attenborough
Hunger & Endangered Species
mad: adj. angry; enraged.
We are mad that families go to sleep hungry in southern Madagascar.
“At least 1.35 million people are expected to face high acute food insecurity (IPC Phase 3 or worse) during the peak of the lean season from January to April 2023… At least 356,000 children are expected to require treatment for acute malnutrition in the lean season.” — UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs
We are mad that species are at risk of extinction in the Dry and Spiny Forests.
“The mass deforestation by colonial [agave] plantation owners, and the continuation of traditional slash and burn practices by locals searching for fertile soils and pastures have caused the rapid loss of forests across the dry and spiny forests of southern Madagascar.” — The World Bank Group
Climate-Smart & Regenerative Agriculture
mad: adj. crazy; irrational.
We think it is mad to continue business as usual.
“95% of people facing acute food insecurity in southern Madagascar live on agriculture, livestock, and fishing. Years of poor harvests driven by drought upon drought… have pushed people to the brink. We must take urgent action to keep livestock alive… but cannot neglect the need to build more climate-resilient agricultural livelihoods for the longer term.” — Food & Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
We believe Climate-Smart and Regenerative Agriculture is the answer.
“Climate-Smart Agriculture (CSA) pursues the triple objectives of sustainably increasing productivity and incomes, adapting to climate change and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.” “CSA requires an integrated approach that is responsive to specific local conditions, diversifies food sources and strengthens the resilience of farmers’ livelihoods.” — FAO
“Regenerative Agriculture describes farming and grazing practices that, among other benefits, reverse climate change by rebuilding soil organic matter and restoring degraded soil biodiversity – resulting in both carbon drawdown and improving the water cycle.” — Regeneration International
Why Agave?
mad: adj. enthusiastic; passionate.
We are mad about the regenerative power of agave.
Personified by the fertility goddess Mayahuel, the agave plant was revered by mesoamericans for its abundant uses and adaptations to prosper in arid, degraded land. "The agave, in short, was meat, drink, clothing, and writing materials for the Aztec! Surely, never did Nature enclose in so compact a form so many of the elements of human comfort and civilization!” — ‘History of the Conquest of Mexico’ by William H. Prescott
Agaves tolerate intense heat and readily grow with a minimum annual rainfall of approximately 10 inches or 250 mm, due to their widespread, shallow root systems that decrease erosion, critical to combating desertification. The longed lived agave is also one of the world’s most efficient plants for sequestering atmospheric carbon dioxide, converting it into biomass with a fraction of the water usage of other plants, making them a critical tool to combat increasing atmospheric carbon levels. Products derived from agave (fiber, sugar, inulin, & alcohol) have established global markets and can be lucrative exports for southern Madagascar.
Make a donation.
All donations go directly to supporting our reforestation and community initiatives and will not be used for commercial projects.
Through our fiscal sponsorship agreement with Regeneration International, all charitable donations are deductible to the full extent allowed by the law. Regeneration International is a tax-exempt, non-profit organization, under the section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code under EIN 81-2613372.
Contact us.
Email: info@madagave.com
Mail: MadAgave, Ampimakiambato Fort-Dauphin 614
Madagascar