Leveraging the Role of Brazilian Cocoa

Farms participating in the “More Intelligence, More Cocoa” program receive monthly half-day visits from agricultural engineers, all with a high level of knowledge in cocoa farming. These engineers bring best management practices to the producers, explaining and monitoring fundamental practices such as pruning, fertilization, harvesting, and processing/storage of the cocoa beans. In addition, the technicians support the farm by creating and implementing a detailed farm management plan. Cocoa farmers are encouraged to record all farm purchases and activities, improving financial control and farm management. This results in more assertive decision-making and increased operational efficiency, as well as contributing to traceability and transparency in agricultural practices. It is worth noting that, despite its simple methodology, the project is highly necessary in a region with a scarcity of knowledge and a great need for modernization of practices and access to technology. Furthermore, it presents itself as a low-investment, high-return model in productivity in a short period of time. This project, due to its high scalability and replicability, becomes a fundamental tool not only for raising Brazilian cocoa to the productivity levels it once had, but, above all, for placing Brazilian cocoa on the global map as the most sustainable, responsible, and highest quality cocoa available.