Colombia’s Amazon rainforest is one of the most biodiverse ecosystems on the planet, yet decades of deforestation and land use have left large areas in need of recovery.
Through a partnership with DISAN Agro, Jiffy is supporting reforestation initiatives that restore land, strengthen local communities, and create a model for sustainable agriculture across Latin America.
DISAN Siembra: A Reforestation Project in the Colombian Amazon
In 2020, DISAN Agro—a Colombian company with a presence in six countries—set out a sustainability strategy with reforestation at its heart. From that commitment grew DISAN Siembra, a project that not only brings forests back to life but also creates jobs, builds skills, and involves local communities in caring for the land over the long term.
“Hand in hand with Jiffy, we began to build a sustainability strategy focused on changing the way agriculture is practiced, promoting methods with a lower environmental impact," says Guido Sierra, the General Director of DISAN Agro for Latin America.
In 2022, the first phase of the project took root in La Hormiga, Putumayo, deep in the Colombian Amazon. More than 40,000 native trees were planted across four hectares, which turned land once used for cattle ranching into a thriving corridor for Amazonian species. The effort came to life through the work of COMUCCOM—a cooperative of individuals reintegrating into society through Colombia’s Peace Agreement—together with local schools, institutions, and suppliers who joined to support the restoration.
Today, camera traps and evaluation plots follow the return of wildlife and plant life in the restored area. Nearly three years after planting, forest cover has taken hold, species are thriving, and the land has reached a stage of recovery that is stable and lasting. Building on this progress, the next goal is to expand restoration to 15 hectares, with a longer-term vision of reaching 100 hectares across Colombia.
Learn more about how Jiffy is supporting restoration in Colombia’s Amazon region.
How Jiffy Pellets Support Reforestation Efforts
A key part of DISAN Siembra’s progress has come through the use of Jiffy Pellets. In the past, forestry nurseries often relied on plastic bags filled with native soil and rice husks. Jiffy’s approach replaces those methods with a ready-to-use substrate held together by biodegradable netting.
This change reduces plastic waste, avoids the extraction of local soil, and helps young plants establish faster. It has been especially valuable for native Amazonian species like açaí, cupuaçu, and oak—trees that are vital to restoration but challenging to propagate at scale. Through extensive validation across different crops, DISAN and Jiffy have shown that the same technology works not only for reforestation but also for commercial agriculture, including coffee, cacao, and strawberries.
Explore Jiffy Forestry Solutions to see how this technology is supporting restoration efforts worldwide.
Social Impact of the DISAN Siembra Initiative
What sets DISAN Siembra apart is the way it restores ecosystems while also strengthening communities. Planting sites are cared for with the help of local cooperatives, reintegration groups, and schools. Their involvement brings education, skills, and livelihoods to the region, alongside the environmental gains of forest recovery.
The first three years are the most critical for young trees. To meet this need, the project has welcomed contributions from institutions and suppliers across Colombia.
In 2023, DISAN Siembra was honored through Colsubsidio’s Xposible call for its impact on both the environment and local communities. Jiffy has stood alongside the project from the start by contributing technology, sharing knowledge in the field, and helping provide the support needed to keep the young forests growing.
This commitment reflects the broader partnership model Jiffy has developed for restoration initiatives around the world.
Expanding Reforestation Across Latin America
While the first stage of DISAN Siembra focused on four hectares in Putumayo, the vision is much broader. DISAN and Jiffy are now exploring additional plots with Corpo Amazonía, the regional environmental authority, and identifying new areas across Colombia.
Sierra described this long-term vision: “We dream of having restoration projects in Panama, Venezuela, Colombia, Peru, Ecuador, and Bolivia—many of which are connected to the Amazon. We are looking for local partners who share the technical and technological interest to evolve from sustainability to what we now call Sostecnibilidad.”
“Sostecnibilidad” is a concept that brings sustainability and technology together in practice. Incorporating practical tools like Jiffy Pellets into restoration makes it possible to reach results that are environmentally sound and technologically advanced.
Why Jiffy’s Reforestation Initiatives Matter
Reforestation in the Amazon is not only about trees. It is about biodiversity, water cycles, climate regulation, and cultural heritage. It is about creating opportunities for local communities while repairing landscapes that sustain life far beyond Colombia’s borders.
Jiffy’s involvement in projects like DISAN Siembra demonstrates how agricultural technology can be applied to global challenges. La Hormiga shows what’s possible when reforestation becomes a shared effort. The forest begins to heal, and at the same time, communities gain new ways to grow and thrive.
As more countries adopt policies that encourage restoration, projects like this provide a blueprint. They prove that with the right partnerships, the future of forestry can be productive, sustainable, and inclusive.
Let’s work together
Jiffy is a leading global supplier of premium growing media and solution thinking. We aim to serve you, our customers in plant propagation and cultivation, to achieve better results with fewer worries. We do this by continually improving, innovating, and working toward our common goals, based on scientific research, teamwork, and decades of experience. Let’s develop sustainable plant growing solutions together: Let’s start today!
