Before introducing EM Technology and regenerative methods, Mr. Ortiz’s land faced several challenges:

• Severe soil degradation caused by prolonged use of chemical insecticides and fungicides.
• Declining productivity, with cacao yields stagnating at around 700kg per hectare due to soil compaction and salinization.
• High input costs, with conventional management requiring more than 3,000 Soles (USD810) per hectare.

After learning about regenerative agriculture, Mr. Ortiz implemented the following practices on his farm:

• Introduced EM Technology by producing Activated EM・1, along with both liquid and solid biofertilizers.
• Established plant cover to protect and enrich the soil, creating conditions similar to those in natural forests.
• Used organic inputs such as seabird guano.
• Applied EM biofertilizers regularly, following a schedule of up to eight applications per year.

The integration of EM Technology with regenerative practices has resulted in:

• An increase in cacao yields from 700 to 1,000 kg/ha within four years, with projections of 1,200–1,300 kg/ha.
• A significant reduction in the use of synthetic agrochemicals, as EM biofertilizers are now produced locally using low cost materials such as molasses and minerals, making the approach economically accessible.
• Lower production costs, with an investment of approximately 800 soles (USD210) per hectare, compared to over 3,000 soles (USD810) under conventional farming methods.
• Mr. Ortiz shared his experiences and supported other farmers, such as a native cacao producer who successfully transformed her plot in just over a year.

Other cacao farmers have also experienced:

• Greater flowering.
• 20% to 30% reduction in the incidence of monilia disease. 
• Improvement in bean quality .
• Decrease in cadmium content by 30%-40%, reducing its presence in the soil from 0.6 to 0.4 ppm.