Our Initiative
A demoplot is a small-scale demonstration plot used by farmers to experiment with and showcase innovative agricultural practices. In Bangka Belitung, it integrates pepper cultivation with agroforestry systems, managed by smallholder farmers as a live learning space for sustainable farming.
The demoplot is established to empower smallholder farmers in Bangka Belitung to adopt climate-resilient and economically viable agroforestry practices. It demonstrates a working model of black pepper intercropped with multipurpose trees and complementary species, helping farmers see what regenerative farming looks like in practice.
White pepper (Piper nigrum) has long been a signature crop of Bangka Belitung. Monoculture practices, land degradation, and climate change, however, have reduced productivity and put farmer livelihoods at risk. Agroforestry offers a regenerative alternative that restores soil fertility, enhances biodiversity, and creates diversified income streams. The demoplot localizes this transition and makes it accessible to rural farming communities.
Showcase an integrated model of pepper-based agroforestry that enhances ecological balance, soil health, and water retention.
Serve as a hands-on learning ground where farmers can observe, learn, and replicate best practices in their own fields.
Introduce multi-crop systems (fruit trees, timber, medicinal plants) to reduce dependence on pepper and build economic resilience.
Enable knowledge sharing, peer-to-peer mentoring, and collaborative problem-solving among local farmers.
Position the demoplot within traceable supply chains that reward sustainable practices with better market access and price premiums.
Pepper trees
White pepper production
White pepper productivity
Data based on pepper plant census as of December 2024.
Demoplot Bangka serves as the core reference site for pepper-based agroforestry in the region. It tracks plant populations, productivity, and system performance over time so farmers and partners can see how regenerative practices perform at field scale.
Each demoplot in Bangka focuses on a different farming model, but all share the same goal: making regenerative pepper agroforestry real and replicable for farmers.
Bird's-eye view of the Demoplot Bangka area, showing how pepper is embedded within a more diverse, tree-rich landscape.
A plot designed to help farmers move step-by-step from conventional pepper monoculture into regenerative agroforestry.
A SpiceUp-supported demoplot focusing on regenerating soil health while maintaining commercial pepper production.
A syntropic agroforestry plot that layers pepper with multiple canopy strata to mimic natural forest structure.
