OVERVIEW
Cacao for Peace (CFP) promotes rural peace and development in cacao-producing communities through enhanced cacao research, education, and access to international markets. Cacao research is focused on developing more resilient and sustainable cacao plants, farm inputs, and cultivation practices, thereby increasing cacao crop yields and bettering farmer incomes. CFP is implemented through a Participating Agency Program Agreement (PAPA) with the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), and it runs from July 2021-July 2026.
GOALS
STRENGTHEN COCAO RESEARCH
CFP strengthens Colombian cacao research institutions’ capacities through educational support and technical assistance, and it helps these institutions develop new and sustainable cacao farming inputs and practices. The activity also helps address the urgent problems impacting the cacao value chain, like cacao diseases and food safety issues.
PROMOTE CACAO TRADE
CFP leverages USDA’s technical experience and partners to address the technical barriers that limit Colombia’s cacao trade. It does this through actions like: optimizing cacao production; supporting the registry of cacao-specific pesticides; improving producers’ food safety capacities; and assisting producers to obtain an heirloom cacao classification.
ANTICIPATED RESULTS
- Create three heirloom cacao nurseries;
- Designate a cacao tree variety as heirloom cacao;
- Develop a cacao food safety risk communication strategy;
- Engage 500 participants through workshops and meetings;
- Train 110 individual in agricultural productivity or food security;
- Establish a cacao research, development, and innovation foundation; and
- Research, develop, and/or transfer ten technologies or management practices for the benefit of cacao producers.
