WORKING TOGETHER TO CREATE A STABLE FUTURE

Well before the conquistadors conquered Colombia, cacao was used by the indigenous population as both food and medicine and as a means of payment. During the colonial period, the Spanish developed plantations and expanded the cacao trade and well before the conflict that led to Colombian independence in 1810 there were cacao plantations in the Colombian South Pacific, which were abandoned after the start of the war.

In the 19th century, cacao cultivation in Colombia suffered a major setback due to disease and economic problems, and it was even surmised that cacao, which Cortepaz now describes as a cultural asset, had died out by the end of the 1940s. Nonetheless, the industry gradually recovered and regained importance and producers, the government and various organisations have implemented programs to train farmers and promote sustainable cultivation methods. For example, the National Federation of Cacao Farmers (FEDECACAO) was created to represent and protect the interests of Colombian cacao farmers and to help research and commercialise the products. Additionally, there is also the Colombian Agricultural Research Corporation (AGROSAVIA), which aims to use scientific findings to adapt agricultural technologies with a view to increase productivity, utilise natural resources sustainably and to improve the quality of life of the population.

In addition to Colombia‘s number one export product, coffee, a growing market for high-quality cacao has developed in recent years. According to the ICCO (International Cacao Organisation), 80% of exported cacao is fine flavour cacao.