Restoring the Tropical Dry Forest: The Experience of the Río Cauca Research Center with Jiffy Pellets

In the municipality of La Pintada, Antioquia, you’ll find the Cauca River Forest Research and Conservation Center, an initiative by the Grupo Argos Foundation dedicated to conserving and restoring one of Colombia’s most threatened ecosystems: the tropical dry forest. Coordinated by environmental engineer Ximena Pajarito, the center works on three fronts: native species production, environmental education, and applied research.

Founded in 2023, the center is committed to technological innovation and sustainability. One key tool in this process has been the use of peat and coconut Jiffy Pellets as containers for propagating native tree species.

“We started by assessing the performance of over 30 different species in peat pellets, then in coconut pellets. This has allowed us to understand which species respond best in each type of container, optimizing the production process from the start,” explains Ximena.

Science in the Service of Restoration
Studies conducted by the center have classified species by growth periods, size, and root behavior, identifying ideal conditions for each. Thanks to this, species like Genipa americana (Jagua) reach between 30 and 40 cm in just three months, while Búcaro (Erythrina fusca) has shown outstanding development in peat pellets due to its high water requirement and robust root system.

“The peat pellet retains more moisture, which is ideal for demanding species. The coconut pellet, on the other hand, offers advantages in extreme climate conditions. We’d even like to explore mixes of both to improve efficiency further,” adds Ximena.

Transformative Technology
Beyond plant growth, Jiffy Pellets are notable for their logistical and environmental benefits:

• Space-saving: They allow handling large quantities in compact trays.
• Easy storage and transport: Their compressed form optimizes logistics.
• Real sustainability: They are fully biodegradable, helping eliminate single-use plastics.
• The use of pellets has also reduced waste generated in the nursery, aligning with the foundation’s sustainability policies.

“For us, it’s key to work with materials that don’t generate hard-to-manage waste. Using biodegradable pellets helps us keep our production clean and responsible,” Ximena points out.

More Than a Supplier, a Partner
A highly valued aspect by the center’s team has been Jiffy’s technical support throughout the process, from purchase to field establishment of plants.

“They’ve provided training, technical advice, fertilization recommendations, and constant follow-up. This close relationship makes Jiffy not just a supplier but a partner in our mission,” she asserts.

Thanks to this collaboration, the center has managed to produce over 500,000 seedlings a year, actively contributing to the ecological recovery of degraded areas of the tropical dry forest.

“From CIRCA, we invite all nurseries, institutions, and communities to discover and try Jiffy technology. I assure you will find an effective, sustainable tool adapted to the territory’s real needs,” Ximena concludes.

Let’s Work Together

Jiffy is a global leading supplier of premium growing media and smart solutions. Our goal is to serve you, our customer in plant propagation and cultivation, to achieve better results with fewer concerns. We achieve this by continuously improving, innovating, and working towards common goals based on scientific research, teamwork, and decades of experience. Let’s develop sustainable plant cultivation solutions together: let’s start today!