Maya Nut Institute

About us

Maya Nut Institute is a nonprofit public charity founded in 2001. While our mission remains the same, we changed our name from The Equilibrium Fund to The Maya Nut Institute in 2010.

Our mission is to “find balance between people, food and forests” by teaching rural communities about the value of Maya Nut for food, fodder, ecosystem services and income.
We maintain an “open access” policy with our documents, materials, photos, manuals and other information. This is in keeping with our goal of sharing any and all knowledge about Maya Nut with as many people as possible as quickly as possible.

Maya Nut is the seed of Brosimum alicastrum, a large tropical rainforest tree native to Latin America and the Caribbean. It is not a true nut and does not contain any allergenic compounds or alkaloids.

Maya Nuts using for
• Food: Maya Nut has exceptional nutritional, culinary and storage qualities. It can be prepared fresh or dried.
• Ecosystem Services: Maya Nut forests provide ecosystem services of protection of soils, water and biodiversity. It is one of the best species to protect SOILS because it is evergreen, therefore providing valuable shade and protection from driving rain and erosion all year.
• Fodder: Maya Nut produces excellent fodder for cattle, pigs, horses, goats and sheep. Maya Nut leaves contain between 15-20% protein and are highly digestible.
• Income: Indigenous women have formed different autonomous businesses to produce and market Maya Nut products and to teach workshops to other women.

Programs
• Healthy Kids, Healthy Forests Program: Kids in Guatemala now eat Maya Nut school lunches daily. Kids learn about Maya Nut at school and protect it at home. Miskitu children lining up for Maya Nut in Nicaragua.

The Maya Nut program has demonstrated positive and lasting impacts on:
• Rainforest conservation
• Reforestation
• Health and nutrition
• Food security
• Women´s incomes, self-esteem and status
• Maternal health and infant birth weights

Erika Vohman is the Founder and Executive Director of the Maya Nut Institute.

For other net participants we can offer an expert guidance through trained staff, give an expert opinion, procure expert information and establish new contacts in the field of our work.