Colombian chocolate manufacturer uses technology to prevent deforestation and boost biodiversity

In the Colombian context, the main causes of deforestation are linked to broader land-use dynamics rather than to cocoa. Forest loss is largely associated with the expansion of extensive cattle ranching and other agricultural frontiers, as well as a range of informal and illegal activities in areas with weak land-use planning and limited enforcement.

By contrast, cocoa is typically grown by smallholders on dispersed plots, often in agroforestry systems, and in many regions it is promoted as an alternative that can help maintain or increase tree cover on farms.

But there is a danger that the current cocoa shortage and related price hikes could have negative consequences in Colombia too. As Camacho points out:

The current cocoa shortage and price spike are having a mixed impact. On the one hand, higher prices have increased incomes for cocoa-growing families in Colombia, creating an opportunity to reinvest in their farms and improve ...