Magic beans to the rescue
Oxfam has helped farmers in Siuna, Nicaragua, adopt an environmentally friendly method of fertilisation. Before, farmers relied on the ‘slash and burn’ technique which uses the ashes of felled trees as fertiliser – and devastated the rainforest. Now, they use a very special type of bean instead.

Kind to the environment, great for crops
The bean plant’s decaying foliage feeds the soil with nutrients and acts as a natural pesticide. Farmers today are growing bumper crops – and the rainforest is left untouched. What an amazing bean!