Entry: Eduardo Somarriba, CATIE, Costa Rica

Cocoa has been cultivated in Mesoamerica (from southern Mexico to northern South America) for more than one thousand years, initially as a sacred, ceremonial food and later as a commodity for the international markets (both in colonial times and today). Severe diseases pressures, coupled with lower international market prices between 1970-2000 led many farmers to replace cocoa with more profitable crops (such as intensive, mono-cropped bananas for export or pastures) in areas with good access and transportation infrastructure.

Nowadays, cacao is cultivated by indigenous peoples (Ngobe, Panamá; Bribris and Cabecares, Costa Rica; Mayangna and Miskitos, Nicaragua and Honduras; and Mayas in Mexico, Guatemala and Belize) and peasant farmers in remote areas of all Mesoamerican countries. Cocoa farms are commonly located around protected areas of high national and global conservation value. Cacao cultivation is a key land use for poverty alleviation and environmental conservation in Mesoamerica. Mesoamerican cocoa, mostly Trinitarios variety, has a reputation for good quality, as well as cultivated in an environmentally and socially responsible manner (organic, fair trade and other sustainable cocoa models).

CATIE (Centro Agronomico Tropical de Investigacion y Ensenanza), a regional centre for research , education and sustainable development, has a long history with cocoa. We host the world second largest cocoa germplasm collection. CATIE has been a leader on cocoa research to control of moniliasis (Moniliophthora roreri), a devastating fungal disease. This research is being funded by the World Cocoa Foundation, along with several other international public and private sector partners.

Photo: The Henry A. Wallace Building at CATIE

CATIE has also pioneered research and development of agroforestry technologies for optimal shade regulation, product diversification (to mitigate financial risk and uncertainty on household economics), and provision of environmental services at both the plot (soil, water and biodiversity conservation) and global scales (for instance, storage of atmospheric carbon and mitigation of global climate change). We also produce a significant number of scientific, technical and promotional materials on cocoa.

My work with cocoa focuses on the design, testing and dissemination of shade management strategies for farmers. The contribution of cocoa farming to both biodiversity conservation and carbon sequestration in small indigenous farms in Costa Rica and Panama are central themes of my work. I also have been dedicated to introducing new cocoa production technologies to farmers (improved varieties, grafting and management of grafted cocoa plants, pest and disease control and agroforestry) in Mesoamerica and Bolivia (Aymaras, Quechuas and Mosetenes indigenous groups).

Photo: Eduardo Somarriba

There is much additional work that needs to be done, both in research and dissemination and application of cocoa science and technology in small, Mesoamerican cocoa farms. We in CATIE are strongly committed to this end. If you have the opportunity, please read more about our research on the website or come and visit us in Costa Rica.