the local people and places we work and collaborate with, visit, restore and learn from.
Los Arboleros farm
Leo Avatar and Lucas Oshun, two northern California childhood friends have partnered to create this tropical eco-agricultural business and education center in Chone, Ecuador. RFI operates as a client of the farm and rents the space for educational programs. The farm has all bamboo built infrastructure as well as diverse crop and native timber production. Social and environmental enterprise models are demonstrated to international and local visitors at the 70 acre Los Arboleros campus. See more of their work on Facebook and Instagram @losarbolerosfarm!
luis andrade
Luis Andrade is an academic researcher, Professor of Tourism, and networker extraordinaire at the ESPAM University of Calceta, Manabí, Ecuador. Luis has been instrumental in supporting collaboration with Ecuadorian academic institutions and researchers. As a native to Chone, Ecuador, Luis aims to bring international recognition to the delicious cuisine of Manabí, the beautiful landscapes, and the organic agricultural potential of the region.
Reserva Natural Punta Gorda
The Reserva Natural Punta Gorda (Punta Gorda Nature Reserve) is a long-time collaborator of the Institute and our founder. Located in a protected tropical dry forest 9 miles down the coast from Bahía de Carácquez, this 40 ha reserve is home to restoration projects, ecology research and educational programs. As a longtime collaborator with the Intitute, Punta Gorda and its founder, Moncho, inspire us towards the research, and restoration we hope to see on our land
Jama Coaque Reserve
Jama Coaque is a 2,000 acre reserve home to permaculture, conservation and research projects. Founded a the turn of the century, it is part of the Third Millenium Alliance’s plans to spread protection to the threatened coastal forest ecosystem of central Ecuador
Jonas Hauptman and the BioDesign Research Group
Jonas Hauptman is Assistant Professor of Industrial Designer and Co-Founder of the Bio Design Research Group at Virginia Tech (VT). Over the past twenty years, he has founded multiple award-winning enterprises that leverage specialized fabrication with novel material approaches. Since 2017 he has been a fellow of Virginia Tech’s Institute for Creativity, Arts, and Technology which has supported his bio-inspired design research with robotic free-form 3d felting of recycled plastic fiber and his multiple projects to program bamboo, through growth, as well as both additive and subtractive fabrication of composite building and manufacturing systems. Jonas is also, he is a member of the International Bamboo and Rattan Organizations Construction Task Force, a group of 36 of the world’s leading experts in the field of structural and constructional use of bamboo.
Universidad Laica Eloy Alfaro de manabí
The ULEAM has partnered with RFI to provide the support of professors, researchers, and faculty towards developing and conducting occupational training programs and courses for university students and local community members focusing on healthy soil development and organic agricultural practices as well as other sustainable green technologies.