Michelin's Ouro Verde project in Brazil

Co-operative worker Andrea cuts a rubber tree sapling. "Microcutting" is one of the scientific initiatives of the plantation's research arm. This means that the trees need to be tapped less intensively, which extends its life (Read the article) Photograph: James Gard/Guardian

A worker tapping a tree - 900 trees have to be tapped every day across the plantation Photograph: James Gard/Guardian

A worker tapping a tree - 900 trees have to be tapped every day across the plantation Photograph: James Gard/Guardian

Rubber accumulating after the tree has been tapped Photograph: James Gard/Guardian

A worker shows the dried rubber that has collected from the tree Photograph: James Gard/Guardian

Dry rubber from the plantations being collected before it is processed Photograph: James Gard/Guardian

Rubber being washed in the processing plant Photograph: James Gard/Guardian

Bales of rubber are loaded in the processing plant, to be sent off to the tyre production facilities across the country Photograph: James Gard/Guardian

A cube of rubber Photograph: James Gard/Guardian

The Microcyclus ulei fungus being analysed in the lab Photograph: James Gard/Guardian

A ripe cocoa pod Photograph: James Gard/Guardian

A cocoa pod split open - the fruit tastes unexpectedly sour, but the end product is sold on to chocolate companies like Nestle Photograph: James Gard/Guardian

A house for plantation workers - it costs €6,000, €1,000 of which is subsidised by Michelin Photograph: James Gard/Guardian

A road sign advertising the new housing estate. The caption reads: "New Igrapiuna. Come in and the house is yours." Outside of the new estate, the houses in the local village are wooden, small and ramshackle Photograph: James Gard/Guardian

Recycling bins on the plantation Photograph: James Gard/Guardian

The Atlantic rainforest. Less famous than its Amazon counterpart, but in dire need of renewal. 500 years of deforestation has reduced it to 5% of its original size Photograph: James Gard/Guardian