TechnoServe’s two-year pilot project in Southern Bahia State helped 60 smallholder farmers to diversify their crops... and integrate into the value chain of a leading national agro-processing company, Inaceres. Through an innovative partnership with Inaceres and Institute Ventura, a Brazilian organization that promotes the development of environmentally sustainable businesses, TechnoServe identified a market for hearts of palm, a high-value gourmet delicacy in Brazil. In addition to establishing a long-term relationship with the buyer, participating farmers received training and access to finance to establish palm tree plantations, which will allow the farmers to increase their incomes by 80 percent.