From High-Yield Cocoa to Agroforestry Cocoa: Ecuador’s Challenge for Latin America

• During the Cacao Summit, CATIE researcher Eduardo Somarriba discussed how to combine productivity, sustainability, and agroforestry through policies and systems designed to meet producers’ needs.

Ecuador has become a global benchmark for cocoa productivity while simultaneously facing a new challenge: transitioning toward production systems that combine high yields with sustainability and agroforestry. This was one of the main topics addressed by Eduardo Somarriba, senior researcher with the Agroforestry, Coffee and Cocoa Unit at CATIE (Tropical Agricultural Research and Higher Education Center), during his participation as a keynote speaker at the ninth edition of the Cacao Summit, held in Guayaquil, Ecuador.

With 600,000 hectares under cultivation and yields approaching one metric ton of cocoa per hectare, Ecuador provides an important benchmark for understanding the direction in which cocoa production is evolving in Latin America. According to Somarriba, these results are attributable, among other factors, to the use of high-yielding genetic materials and intensive agronomic management—a model that contrasts with average yields in Central America, where production per hectare is considerably lower.

For the researcher, understanding Ecuador’s experience is essential for other cocoa-producing countries in the region. “Seeing what is happening in Ecuador provides a good reflection of what we want to achieve in other regions where we work with cocoa, such as Peru, Bolivia, Central America, the Dominican Republic, and Cuba,” he explained.

However, the Ecuadorian model also raises a new question: how can high levels of productivity be maintained while incorporating trees and the environmental benefits of agroforestry? The intensification of cocoa cultivation in Ecuador has been accompanied by a reduction in shade, but new sustainability requirements in international markets are encouraging the sector to reconsider this approach.

In this context, Somarriba presented the topic “Cocoa Agroforestry: Coverage, Trends, Policies, and Optimization,” emphasizing two aspects he considers fundamental to the future of the sector. The first is the need to develop agroforestry policies that encourage producers to incorporate trees into their cocoa systems. The second is to design agroforestry systems that are genuinely attractive to farming families—systems capable of maintaining good cocoa yields, generating additional products, and reducing economic risks while also providing environmental benefits.

“Agroforestry systems will only be adopted if we offer farmers optimally designed systems” that deliver good cocoa yields, diversify production, reduce financial risk, and generate benefits such as carbon sequestration, biodiversity conservation, and regulation of hydrological cycles, the researcher noted.

This perspective represents an opportunity for Latin America, where, according to Somarriba, work on cocoa agroforestry has historically focused on characterizing existing systems. However, there is significant potential to advance the design of optimal systems and the development of policies that promote their adoption.

CATIE’s participation also provided an opportunity to strengthen ties with strategic stakeholders in the global cocoa value chain. During the Summit, Somarriba held discussions with representatives of international companies, including Barry Callebaut, to better understand their needs and explore potential opportunities for collaboration related to the development of agroforestry systems in Ecuador.

The relationship between Ecuador and CATIE also has a long history of cooperation in research, education, and genetic resources. CATIE maintains cocoa materials originating from Ecuadorian breeding programs and receives new genotypes for its germplasm collections. This relationship is further strengthened by Ecuadorian professionals trained at CATIE’s Graduate School, who now participate in research and development initiatives within the country’s cocoa sector.

“These alliances and partnerships between CATIE and Ecuador are largely built on the strong social capital we have developed through our Graduate School,” Somarriba emphasized.

The Cacao Summit brought together more than 500 participants from different sectors of the value chain, including producers, exporters, companies, academia, organizations, and international cooperation stakeholders. In its ninth edition, the program featured a smaller number of keynote presentations, allowing more time for in-depth discussion of topics such as productivity, pest and disease management, genetic improvement, heavy metals, quality, sustainability, and agroforestry.

The event took place from August 4 to 6 in Guayaquil, Ecuador, and brought together specialists from several countries, including Ecuador, Costa Rica, Argentina, and the Netherlands. For CATIE, these spaces represent an opportunity to share knowledge, understand the trends shaping the future of cocoa, and build partnerships that contribute to more productive, sustainable, and resilient cocoa production in Latin America.