The Regenerative
Organic Valley Project
Transforming the Wawee Valley
(100,000 acres in Norther Thailand)
to Regenerative Organic Agriculture
About The Wawee Valley
Wawee Valley is a hill-sheltered 100,00 acres in Northern Thailand (between Chiang Rai and Chiang Mai, near the Myanmar border). It is a highland surrounded by misty hills and is home to more to than 27,000 people living in 25 villages. The soil is rich and fertile but the people are poor and the population has been declining as children have not seen a future there.
What inspires us?
We are inspired by the rich culture, long history and warm hearts of the Akha and Karen tribes who live together in the Wawee Valley. Our work is simply to help these communities thrive in this beautiful valley that has been their home for centuries.
Hilltribe Organics
In 2011, while studying rural villages in Northern Thailand, we kept seeing pictures of groups of old men. “Where are the young farmers in these villages?” I asked. “There aren’t any. Not any more.” was the response.
We learned that in these beautiful mountains of Northern Thailand, with rich soil and lush hills, villages were dying as children left for the city. Leaving without education in search of something better than the poverty they had always known. And then falling into abject poverty in the cities. Without skills or tools.”
”This is wrong. It has to change”, we vowed.
So in 2013, three social entrepreneurs founded Hilltribe Organics with the vision of revitalizing hilltribe communities through organic agriculture.
We started with organic free-range eggs. Eggs are a huge category in Thailand, finding their way into much Thai cuisine. We saw a category was big enough for a new organic brand – and HTO became the first organic, free-range eggs, the first in biodegradable packaging (all eggs were sold in plastic then) and the first traceable product of any kind (every single egg can be traced to its farm and farmer). But it was the great taste of HTO eggs that helped the brand catch on, grow and continue to lead the category today, despite the many new brands who followed us.
While our eggs succeeded in the marketplace, HTO’s biggest impact was among our farmer families, more than doubling family income within 3 months. Not just increasing income but providing it daily, something these farmers had never known. Enabling them to plan for the first time, starting with educating their children.
The Wawee Valley Foundation
But while HTO continues to grow, there are still many more farmers wanting to join the program than demand will allow. And even more still using the noxious chemicals and pesticides of conventional farming. So in 2022, HTO established the Wawee Valley Foundation to develop practices and a Master Plan to convert the entire Wawee Valley (100,000 acres) to Regenerative Organic Agriculture – with the goal of bringing vastly improved employment to all of its 5,000 families.
OUR KEY IDEAS
The Regenerative Organic Valley Project:
Our Vision
To develop practical, scalable and financially sustainable solutions for the most challenging problems in the world – poverty and climate
Our Mission
Convert the Wawee Valley to Regenerative Organic Agriculture with an integrated ecosystem that alleviates poverty. While restoring the environment and sequestering carbon.
Our Vision
Grow the most indisputably healthy foods in the world (like chia, turmeric, ginger, moringa etc) in the healthiest way (Regenerative Organic)
Our Projects
HERO Fertilizer
Biochar
Converting to ROA
Creating Food Jungles
Expanding Wellness Crops
Combine our chicken waste and agricultural waste to create a Highly Effective Regenerative Organic fertilizer and prevent the burning of field
Convert existing corn farming from conventional to Regenerative Organic farming and intercrop with superfoods
Convert existing corn farming from conventional use of chemicals to Regenerative Organic farming and intercrop with superfoods
Combine the healthiest tree crops with the heathiest plant crops, cover crops and root crops in a harmonious system – together with hens
Strengthen the existing wellness crops in the Valley like turmeric, ginger, moringa) while adding new varieties with long proven health benefits while using ROA practices
