Plotting the Bright Future of Sustainable Kratom
I wanted to take a moment and talk about the opportunities that the Kratom industry can create for our partners in South East Asia. Kratom presents an opportunity to grow and harvest a plant that is not only in demand, but that is a sustainable and culturally important to the economies of farmers and distributors. Kratom plants become mature after growing healthily for 3 or more years. Some of the best strains of Kratom are harvested from trees that are 20 years old or more. The inherent life cycle and life length of a plant like this means that a long term and sustainable farming practice is required for desirable results. Also, Kratom plants thrive in a rainforest environment where they are living underneath a taller forest canopy. Which is to say they grow best when within the ecosystem of the natural rainforest environment. This is the same environment that is being deforested by the palm oil industry in South East Asia. According to the report “The Last Stand of the Orangutan- State of Emergency: Illegal Logging, Fire and Palm Oil in Indonesia’s National Parks” (published in 2007 by the United Nations
Environment Program UNEP), palm oil plantations are currently the leading cause of rainforest destruction in Malaysia and Indonesia: “
One of the hopes and goals of our industry is that Kratom could become an alternative for farmers in Malaysia and Indonesia, providing a strong income source through farming a plant that not only helps people, but stops the deforestation that is ravaging the region. This level of environmental and cultural stewardship is a major theme we’d like to put forward in the representation of Kratom to the public. This is a plant that can provide distinguishable benefits for consumers, while also supporting an industry that leads by example in sustainability and environmental stewardship. This is an industry that also creates job growth and long term financial stability in a region of the world where it is much needed.