ABOUT EDEN HERBS AND SPICES

 Company status : Registered limited liability company.
 Year of registration : Eden Herbs & Spices NV was first registered under the wings of Harapan Foundation in November 2021 at the Chambers of Commerce. On March 7th, 2025 the Company notary changed its legal entity to Limited Liability Company (N.V.).
 Number of employees : 6 employees.
 Business sector : Agriculture and agro-processing; specialization in herbs, spices, teas, powders, capsules, and related wellness products.

Maryan T. Setrodikoro – Chief Executive Officer
Maryan Setrodikoro, herbalist, is the founder of the Eden Herbs & Spices NV product line as well as the largest shareholder. Driven by her agricultural background and wavering health, she developed this natural line consisting of medicinal and non-medicinal herbs. She is the chair of NGO Harapan (Hope) Foundation, where since 2009 she has carried out social projects, developed training courses and coached young people with learning and behavioral problems. She obtained her Bachelor of Education degree in Pedagogy in 2016 with a major in diagnose, advice and guidance. On request, she guides college and university students in Agro-processing & Entrepreneurship and occasionally acts as a motivational speaker. She is part of the Wini Uma movement where women are taught the potential of their strength in entrepreneurship.

CONTEXT

Background: Eden Herbs & Spices NV has its origins in the agricultural sector of Suriname, located in Wanica district and collaborating with out growers in other districts (e.g., Commewijne; Marowijne; Saramacca) as well as indigenous women’s cooperatives in Pierre Kondré. The company specializes in producing pure, preservative-free medicinal and culinary herbs, including moringa, hibiscus, turmeric, and gotu kola, as teas, powders and capsules.
Mission : To produce healthy, safe and high-quality plant-based natural products from medicinal and non-medicinal crops that Suriname has in abundance without the use of preservatives.
Vision : To inspire awareness and trust in the use of high-quality, natural, and healthy herbal products from Suriname, promoting nature as our healer and guiding source for better health, locally and internationally.
Slogan : “Your Health is our Concern!”

Position in the market: The company partners with a number of organizations: ASAP Agri Farm; Agro Cooperation Kawna Opo WA (Out growers Commewijne); Sur Organic & Hydro Crops; agronomist Soesila Ramautar (co trainer); cooperation Asajaka Weno Verwerking U.A. (indigenous women in Pierre Kondré). Within the local market the company positions itself as a value-adding processor rather than just a raw material grower.
The company works with smallholders and cooperatives (out growers) under year-round price contracts, sources from indigenous women’s production, partners with packaging and processing firms, and uses freight forwarders for logistics. For example, the company has entered into production machine agreements and engages with the Ministries of Agriculture and Economic Affairs in Suriname.

Relationships with smallholders: Eden Herbs and Spices NV work with numerous actors, such as smallholder farmers (out growers across districts), indigenous cooperatives, agronomy support/training, processing/packaging machinery suppliers, distribution networks and freight/logistics companies. The company is actively seeking to deepen linkages with packaging/quality assurance for export markets, and with chefs/food service increasingly through its product portfolio of teas, powders, capsules, oils and spices.

PRODUCTS AND MARKET

Main products: Eden Herbs & Spices NV offers a core product line based on five primary herbs: ginger, gotu kola, moringa, hibiscus (sorrel) and turmeric. These are processed into multiple formats: teas, powders and capsules. For example: ginger (tea, powder, capsule), gotu kola (tea, powder, capsule), moringa (tea, powder, capsule), sorrel/hibiscus (tea, powder, capsule), turmeric (tea, powder, capsule). Additional products include spice blends (e.g., “5 in 1 Spices”), red pepper flakes, black pepper, lemongrass mix iced tea, shredded coconut, cold pressed coconut oil, hot-pressed coconut oil, niaouli herbal oil. The company emphasizes production without preservatives and uses processing machines to ensure clean production.

Main markets: The main markets are both local (Suriname domestic retail and possibly food service) and regional/international. Locally the products serve domestic consumers and possibly tourism/food service; regionally the company is targeting CARICOM countries and Latin America.

INNOVATIONS: MILESTONES AND EXPANSION PLANS

One major milestone is the acquisition of eight new production machines through the SURGE (Suriname Growth Enterprise) program (a government World Bank financed initiative) in September 2024, which enabled Eden Herbs & Spices NV to automate the production of at least 18 of its products. This upgrade enabled increased output and improved quality control. The firm’s use of year round price contracts with out growers, its partnership with indigenous women’s cooperatives, and its investment in clean production equipment represent important innovations in its business model. The company also focuses on skills development (for example agronomy training through Soesila Ramautar), and digital/logistics tools (working with freight forwarders and export readiness). For expansion plans the company is targeting regional markets (CARICOM, Latin America), as well as Europe (Netherlands) and Middle East (Dubai) by the end of November 2025. They plan to upscale packaging, consistency, quality and to establish contacts in these target markets; they also identify opportunities in “natural/pure products” and regional trade partnerships. Needs for upscaling include technical (availability and cost of processing machines, human capital in food processing and maintenance technicians), financial (access to low interest finance, high logistic costs, export shipment delays) and policy/regulatory (certification, cross border trade logistics, regulatory compliance).

SUCCESS FACTORS AND LESSONS LEARNED

Eden Herbs & Spices NV’ success is rooted in its integration of community-focused sourcing, high-quality production, and strategic investment in modern processing technology. By partnering with smallholder out-growers and indigenous women’s cooperatives, the company secures a reliable supply of raw materials while contributing to rural development. Its commitment to preservative-free, natural products, combined with the acquisition of eight new production machines through the SURGE program, has enhanced quality, efficiency, and market credibility. The company has received formal recognition from the Surinamese government for its role in women’s entrepreneurship and local agro-processing. Lessons learned include the critical importance of skilled human capital in food processing and maintenance, the challenges of climate-related crop variability, fluctuating raw-material prices, and the complexities of logistics, export compliance, and financing. By leveraging partnerships, technology, and community engagement, Eden Herbs & Spices NV has built a resilient, scalable model that positions it for successful regional and international expansion.

Additional Resources

• IICA-COLEAD - Business Profile - Eden Herbs and Spices - EN
• IICA-COLEAD - Profil d'entreprise - Eden Herbs and Spices - FR
• IICA-COLEAD - Perfil Empresarial - Eden Herbs and Spices - ES