Cacao for Peace (CfP) is a program conducted in Colombia by the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service with funding from USAID/Colombia. The purpose of the program is to strengthen the Cacao sector in Colombia by supporting scientific research in the areas of agroforestry and climate adaptation. CfP works with Colombian and U.S. technical and scientific partners toward achieving its two objectives: (1) Strengthen Cacao Research, Innovation and Development; and (2) Promoting a trade enabling environment for Colombian cacao.
Activities conducted include several scientific research exchanges between cacao researchers and students in the U.S. and Colombia; genome editing to reduce the update of cadmium into cacao; optimizing cacao production through climate adaptive GIS soil mapping; increasing the availability of safe, low risk fungicides and biofungicides to treat two common cacao diseases; risk analysis and food safety communication workshops; and identifying, preserving, and propagating heirloom cacao varieties. USDA Foreign Agricultural Service partners with a number of implementing institutions for this activity including: USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, USDA Agricultural Research Service, Agrosavia, Partners of the Americas 100k Strong Initiative, Fulbright Colombia, University of Cordoba, Alliance of Bioversity International and the International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT), Heirloom Cacao Preservation Fund, National Federation of Cacao Farmers (Fedecacao), and the Minor Use Foundation.
Cacao for Peace 2-Page Fact Sheet
Contact: Melissa Yeakley Martin, melissa.yeakley@usda.gov
Collaborating agencies, organizations, or institutions:
USDA Foreign Agricultural Service
USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service
USDA Agricultural Research Service
Partners of the Americas 100,00 Strong in the Americas
Alliance of Bioversity International and the International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT)