When David Dale first moved to Southeast Asia 15 years ago, he didn’t know he would find his life’s calling, but that’s exactly what happened. He initially worked for an agriculture company that promoted soybeans. Over time, however, he learned all about the farming community and the plight that upland farmers faced. Unlike the wealthier farmers who planted rice, soybeans and other crops in the lowlands, upland farmers plant their crops on the mountainside. Crops grow during the rainy season but due to heavy erosion, the land is not sustainable and the soil is degraded quickly, which means they have to clear new plots the following year.