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International development

Our vision of development

What is the point of investing in development projects when they are abandoned after completion? The Louis Bolk Institute has a different vision of development: we take a long-term, grassroots approach, and focus our projects on poverty alleviation through empowerment, capacity building, and ecologically and socially sustainable agricultural production. We believe that sustainable agriculture is a precondition for sustainable development, because it enables people to improve their livelihoods without depleting natural resources, both in the short and long term.

Local and international expertise

Our local staff in Ghana and Uganda work closely together with our staff at the main office in Driebergen. Our service is unique: through local projects we promote ecologically and socially sustainable production - of cocoa, honey and cotton, to name a few -. At the same time, we keep track of relevant international market developments through our international network from our main office in Driebergen.

Taking a broader approach to poverty alleviation

The Louis Bolk Institute takes a broad approach to poverty reduction. Firmly rooted in local context, our projects help to increase prosperity while protecting natural resources.

Organic school gardens

Our organic school garden project in Ghana has multiple beneficial effects on local communities. The school gardens produce enough fruits and vegetables to provide every schoolchild at least one healthy meal a day. The school gardens are also used for training parents and relatives in organic farming methods (Farmer Field Schools). With the schools buying the fruits and vegetables they have raised, participating families earn some extra income.

Would you like to know more?

Outside the Netherlands we operate under the name Agro-Eco Louis Bolk Institute. We have been ISO-certified by DNV since 2008.Read more about our services in Africa (website in English).