{"id":87694,"date":"2026-02-17T10:16:00","date_gmt":"2026-02-17T09:16:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.cfmot.de\/in-search-of-the-extraordinary-rooted-in-the-soil-of-colombia\/"},"modified":"2026-02-17T10:49:59","modified_gmt":"2026-02-17T09:49:59","slug":"in-search-of-the-extraordinary-rooted-in-the-soil-of-colombia","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.cfmot.de\/en\/in-search-of-the-extraordinary-rooted-in-the-soil-of-colombia\/","title":{"rendered":"In Search of the Extraordinary \u2013 Rooted in the Soil of Colombia"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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In the early morning hours, when mist still drapes the lush green hills of Colombia like a veil and the first rays of sunlight pierce through the dense canopy, the day begins for many farmers with a glance at their fields.<\/p>\n

Between Coffee Plantations and Wild Orchids<\/h4>\n

Here, where the soil is fertile and the climate as diverse as the flora itself, medicinal plants, spices, and botanical treasures flourish in their natural splendor. The air is filled with the scent of damp earth, jasmine, and freshly cut grass. Amidst this rich landscape between coffee plantations, and small villages where time seems to pass more slowly, a special story begins. It is the story of Dr. Marcel Flemming, a passionate botanist with a deep love for Latin America, and Luis, a Colombian plant expert with an extensive network.  What started as a chance encounter at a New Year\u2019s Eve party evolved into a crossborder partnership that connects not only plants but also cultures and people.<\/p>\n

Their Hands Know Every Plant, Every Root<\/h4>\n

The farmers these two scouts work with are not anonymous suppliers. They are families who have lived in harmony with nature for generations. Their hands know every plant, every leaf, every root. They work with patience, knowledge, and deep respect for what nature provides. Thus begins an adventure and a collaboration shaped by cultural exchange and the search for rare treasures, rooted in the soil of Colombia.<\/p>\n

From New Year\u2019s Eve Party to Botanical Network<\/h4>\n

Dr. Marcel Flemming: \u201cI\u2019ve always had a strong affection for Latin America, especially after my first trip there in 2002. I met Luis a few years later at my own New Year\u2019s Eve party. He was a friend of my PhD colleague, and we hit it off immediately.\u201d<\/p>\n

The connection to Cfm came through project manager Dr. Sandra Miklos:<\/h4>\n

\u201cI met Marcel and Luis through a project here in Bavaria. Marcel cultivates Iris germanica, a client was looking for the plant\u2019s roots. That\u2019s how we started talking. Soon after, I learned that Luis is from Colombia and could grow and collect plants there. It didn\u2019t take long before the first customer inquiries came in.\u201d<\/p>\n

Between Customs and Time Pressure<\/h4>\n

While the collaboration ran smoothly on a personal level, logistical challenges and customs regulations initially caused difficulties. Dr. Marcel Flemming recalls: \u201cI remember the first projects: Tithonia diversifolia and Cassia grandis. We had no idea how customs would work and were under immense time pressure. Luis activated his network in Colombia and, in a very short time, found people who could identify both plants, collect and dry enough biomass, conduct botanical verification in a botanical garden, and organize the export. It was a masterstroke and quite the adventure\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

But bureaucratic hurdles weren\u2019t the only challenge, Dr. Marcel Flemming remembers: \u201cCommunication with Colombian partners and their different mindset were also things we had to navigate. Plus, it\u2019s generally difficult to build long-term relationships and reliable supply chains when customers don\u2019t commit for extended periods. I think that\u2019s actually the biggest issue.\u201d<\/p>\n

Colombian-Style Communication: Slow but Warm<\/h4>\n

\u201cCommunication is often rather slow\u201c, Dr. Sandra Miklos agrees. Sending emails isn\u2019t the farmers\u2019 top priority. European expectations and Colombian realities sometimes clash. It\u2019s always an adventure until the plants arrive in Germany. But that\u2019s what makes it so exciting.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Neighbor\u2019s Garden Becomes a Botanical Treasure Chest<\/h4>\n

Sometimes things go surprisingly smoothly, and the required plants can be grown by hand or happen to be growing next door. Dr. Marcel Flemming: \u201cWe cultivated Alpinia in our neighbor\u2019s garden and on my small plot of land in Colombia.\u201d Dr. Sandra Miklos contributes: \u201cAnd Stachytarpheta, one of the first plants we searched for, happened to grow on his neighbor\u2019s property.\u201d She furthermore adds: \u201cWith Luis, we\u2019ve gained a well-connected partner in and around Colombia, even reaching into Paraguay. When it comes to plants, we can cover a large part of Latin America.\u201d<\/p>\n

But why Colombia in particular? Dr. Flemming explains: \u201cFirst, Luis is Colombian and knows almost the entire country through his connections (laughs). His family is there and can reliably help. Second, Colombia is one of the most biodiverse countries in the world, with nearly every climate zone and abundant resources. The people are incredibly kind and dependable, and Colombia isn\u2019t burdened by overregulation.\u201d<\/p>\n

Growing Together \u2013 With Respect and a Handshake<\/h4>\n

From his perspective, working with Colombian farmers is a win-win situation. Reliability is key to building trust. Dr. Flemming: \u201cEach project involves different partners, so the collaboration is always unique. What matters is building trust and not disappointing it. We pay good prices, well above the local market, but without going overboard. That makes our Colombian partners very happy to work with us. Germany is still seen as a role model, and people in Latin America are proud to collaborate with German partners.\u201d<\/p>\n

Cfm Oskar Tropitzsch continues to rely on connections in Colombia. Dr. Sandra Miklos concludes: \u201cA large-scale project where plants are cultivated specifically for the European market would be especially exciting.\u201d<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

In the early morning hours, when mist still drapes the lush green hills of Colombia like a veil and the first rays of sunlight pierce through the dense canopy, the day begins for many farmers with a glance at their fields. 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