At a Glance
Location: Colombia
Impact Areas: Suppliers, Environment
People Supported:
Indigenous Communities, Women, Small-scale Farmers
Joined NESsT Portfolio:
2023
Overview
Bioingredientes Amazónicos (“BioIncos”) sources wild fruits from Indigenous communities in the Amazon Piedmont in Colombia and transforms them into natural oils for use in the cosmetics industry. BioIncos pays collectors prices above market average, supporting them to improve their livelihoods and that of their families and communities while conserving the high-biodiversity corridors and landscapes of the region.
In 2021, BioIncos saw an opportunity in the growing demand for organic, natural skincare. This led them to explore the production of cacay oil – an oil rich in vitamins A (retinol), E and F, which nourishes and repairs the skin and hair. Today, BioIncos is one of the few producers of wild-sourced cacay oil in Colombia, and is the first producer to receive a permit to collect cacay fruit in an Indigenous Reserve (The Yunguillo Indigenous Reserve).
BioIncos works closely with Indigenous communities to raise awareness of the commercial value of cacay. The social enterprise runs regular training sessions on harvesting and post-harvesting techniques. By refining their collection and drying practices, collectors can boost their production capacity and efficiency and, consequently, access higher income.
BioIncos sources from more than 170 suppliers, 100 of whom belong to the Inga, Pasto, and Embera Chamí Indigenous communities located in Villagarzón and Mocoa. Recently, in collaboration with Amazonia Mía (a USAID and Chemonics program), BioIncos began establishing agroforestry models to plant trees in degraded or deforested areas of Indigenous territories, with the goal to restore 37 hectares of land with high biodiversity value.
Results & Impact
80%
of internal staff are women
26,000
hectares of Indigenous Reserve under conservation agreements
683
Indigenous collectors supported by 2025
“We are proud to work hand to hand with Indigenous communities of the Amazonian piedmont of Colombia. BioIncos is a business alternative rooted in the bioeconomy; our focus is the sustainable use of the fruits that the forests provide and that our ancestors preserved. We produce active ingredients that enhance the health and well-being of the people who consume them, connecting consumers around the world to the Amazon through its natural extracts.”
NESsT Investment
BioIncos joined the Amazon Indigenous Rights and Resources (AIRR) project in 2021, during which it received support from WWF and NESsT to enhance its technical, business, and impact development. Now, as part of NESsT’s Acceleration portfolio, BioIncos aims to expand its commercial strategy to reach leading natural cosmetics companies in Europe and the US.
NESsT's investment will support BioIncos to continue working closely with Indigenous communities, ensuring a steady production of its oils. In the months when the cacay harvest is not in season, BioIncos collaborates with local collecting families to procure and manufacture burití and seje oils. NESsT's portfolio managers will assist BioIncos in promoting these lesser-known oils, alongside cacay, by showcasing the compelling narratives behind these Amazon-sourced products. Furthermore, NESsT will assist the Indigenous enterprise in improving the traceability of its rainforest-sourced products to meet international certification standards.
Photos: ©Manglar TV - WWF Colombia