Matope barns: See how traditional mud-building techniques are helping us dramatically reduce wood use and emissions in Zambia.
Sometimes, the most innovative solutions come from looking at old problems in new ways. In Zambia, we're combining traditional building materials with modern design to revolutionize how tobacco is cured - and the results are remarkable.
Here's a surprising fact: tobacco leaf curing is the largest single source of indirect greenhouse gas emissions in our business (learn more about our journey to Net-Zero). But thanks to the work done in our Agricultural Development and Extension Training (ADET) centers, we're changing that story.
Enter the Matope barn - 'matope' means mud in the local language. This innovative design, developed at our Zambian ADET center, isn't just a small improvement - it cuts wood consumption by up to 75% compared to traditional 'Pepper Pot' barns. That means significantly lower greenhouse gas emissions too.
The numbers tell an impressive story: in 2023, 79% of tobacco-curing barns in Zambia were Matope barns. But we're not stopping there - we're aiming for 100% by 2025. It's an ambitious goal, but one that's worth pursuing.
This is part of a bigger picture. Through our Minimum Forestry Standards (MFS), - developed in our ADET centers - we're working to make wood supply for tobacco production and curing sustainable. These guidelines help farmers improve everything from tree seedling production to woodlot management - all crucial steps in preventing deforestation and protecting natural woodlands.
Our ultimate goal? 100% renewable wood supply by 2030. Based on our 2023 tree planting activities in Tanzania, Zambia, and Brazil, we're on track to achieve 103% renewable wood sourcing by 2030, accounting for the seven-year wood production cycle.
We know there are challenges ahead - from climate change to forest pests like termites, from soil fertility to varying tobacco volumes. That's why we're developing a high-resolution satellite monitoring platform to track our tree planting and growth progress in real-time.
The Matope barn initiative shows how combining traditional wisdom with modern innovation can create powerful solutions. As we continue to expand this program, we're not just reducing emissions - we're helping build a more sustainable future for tobacco farming.