Executive Summary
Colombia, the world's tenth-largest cacao producer with 16.7 million hectares of suitable land, faces challenges in productivity and compliance, highlighting the vital role of stakeholders like KOLTIVA and Chocolate Colombia in driving sustainable transformation (USDA, 2024).
Nearly 60% of Colombia's national cacao production occurs in conflict-affected areas (ZOMAC), where 25,000 hectares of illicit crops have been replaced by cacao, symbolizing hope and reconciliation in rural communities (USDA, 2024).
Chocolate Colombia, formed by nine producer associations with 911 certified producers, promotes sustainable cacao under Fair Trade principles. Supported by KOLTIVA, it enhances efficiency, compliance, and technological integration, setting a model for sustainable production.
Colombia, a country renowned for its rich biodiversity and agricultural potential, stands as the world's tenth-largest producer of cacao. With 16.7 million hectares of land suitable for cacao cultivation, the country holds immense potential to solidify its position in the global cocoa industry. Yet, significant challenges persist, from productivity constraints to compliance with evolving international standards (USDA: 2024). This underscores the critical role of stakeholders such as KOLTIVA and Chocolate Colombia in driving sustainable and technological transformation in the sector.
Colombian Cacao and the Path to Sustainable Chocolate
Colombia enjoys year-round production with two primary harvest seasons: the "Principal" season from October to January and the "Mitaca" season from May to June. According to the International Cocoa Organization (ICCO), Colombia's cacao production is predominantly centered in the Santander region, which accounts for 34% of the country's total output. Beyond Santander, significant contributions come from other regions such as Arauca, Antioquia, Huila, Nariño, and Tolima. (USDA: 2024).
Most of Colombia's cacao is produced by smallholder producers cultivating an average of three hectares each. The country is renowned for its fine flavor of cacao, which constitutes 95% of its exports, far surpassing other South American competitors (Procolombia: n.d.). This premium cacao, primarily of the Criollo and Trinitario hybrid varieties, is celebrated for its exceptional taste and aroma, making it a sought-after ingredient in high-quality chocolate products worldwide (USDA: 2024).
Cacao holds a special role in Colombia, offering a sustainable alternative to illicit crops while contributing to reduced deforestation and biodiversity preservation. The country has endured decades of armed conflict, drug trafficking, and illegal mining, but in many rural communities, cacao cultivation has become a powerful symbol of hope and reconciliation. Notably, nearly 60% of Colombia's national cacao production occurs in ZOMAC (Zones Most Affected by the Conflict) municipalities, where 25,000 hectares of illicit crops have been successfully replaced by cacao.
In 2024, global cacao prices reached historic highs due to declining production in major producing countries and rising demand. This surge has reinforced the economic potential of cacao production in Colombia, providing smallholder producers with an unprecedented opportunity to enhance their livelihoods. With higher prices, producers can invest in better agricultural practices, adopt innovative technologies, and improve the quality and sustainability of their produce.
Collaborative Efforts in the Sustainable Cacao Sector: Chocolate Colombia and KOLTIVA
To keep up with the demand, many cacao farms in Colombia require modernization through better planting practices and disease-resistant varieties. Additionally, compliance with international standards, particularly the European Union's deforestation regulation (EUDR), presents a critical challenge for Colombian producers. As the industry strives for sustainability and market expansion, initiatives to enhance traceability and supply chain resilience are essential. This is where the expertise of KOLTIVA and Chocolate Colombia plays a pivotal role in supporting producers with the tools and technologies needed to overcome these obstacles, ensuring a more sustainable and competitive future for Colombian cacao.
Chocolate Colombia is the result of nine producers' associations in conflict-affected communities uniting with a shared goal: to add value to cocoa and enhance its commercialization. With 911 certified producers across Antioquia, Bolívar, and Córdoba, the organization actively promotes sustainable practices under Fair Trade principles. KOLTIVA is supporting this effort. By collaborating with KOLTIVA, Chocolate Colombia enhances its operational efficiency and compliance with international standards, positioning itself as an innovative model for sustainable cacao production with technological integration.
KOLTIVA has introduced digital tools such as KoltiTrace MIS, FarmGate, and FarmXtension to enhance the operations of Chocolate Colombia's member associations. These tools are designed to help cooperatives map all their producers' farms and streamline cocoa-receiving processes. Through training and support, the cooperatives are now equipped to leverage these innovative solutions, which offer several key benefits:
Ensure traceability of cacao from farm to end consumer.
Support compliance with sustainability and deforestation-free requirements.
Strengthen producers' organizational capacities and Fair-Trade certification adherence.
Support the integration of producers into organic certification.
With our expertise, Chocolate Colombia is one of the first chocolate producers to achieve full traceability from farm to table, exporting Fair Trade-certified cocoa while complying with the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR). Fully owned by producer associations, Chocolate Colombia is committed to empowering local communities and improving cacao production. These initiatives help smallholders produce sustainable cocoa, preventing a return to illicit crops or migration to cities. This collaboration strengthens transparency and sustainability in Colombia's cacao sector, with the goal of building resilient supply chains, enabling access to higher-value markets, and delivering traceable, sustainable products.
"By combining our technological expertise into the operation of Chocolate Colombia, we are empowering cacao producers in Colombia to lead the charge for sustainability. This partnership ensures that smallholders are not just participants in the value chain, but key drivers of innovation and change." — Silvan Ziegler, Sr. Head of Markets Americas, KOLTIVA
Empowering Communities Through Tailored Technology Integration
To achieve these goals, according to Silvan, we take a comprehensive, community-centered approach to technology integration, focusing on understanding local needs, building trust, simplifying technology, and ensuring long-term sustainability. Through a series of thoughtful, tailored steps, we work alongside the producers to empower them with the tools and knowledge necessary to drive sustainable practices and improve cacao production.
Understanding the Community's Needs Each community is unique, so our first step is always to understand the specific challenges, workflows, and goals of the organizations we work with. Through meetings and workshops with leaders, members, and key stakeholders from all of Chocolate Colombia's member organizations, we gather insights that guide the tailoring of our solutions. We also assess their current infrastructure, digital literacy, and readiness to adopt new technology. KOLTIVA adapts its solutions to meet these unique needs, collaborating with initiatives like the Cacao for Development (C4D) project to ensure the best fit for the Colombian cacao sector.
Building Trust and Relationships The introduction of technology is not just about the tools themselves—it's about fostering trust and building lasting relationships. We take a transparent, partnership-based approach from the start. Engaging community leaders early ensures their buy-in and creates a shared vision. Understanding and addressing concerns, such as fears about job displacement or technology complexity, is also crucial. We focus on the benefits: empowering the community, improving efficiency, and creating long-term value for all involved.
Simplifying Technology for Accessibility Technology must be accessible to all, so we design intuitive, user-friendly interfaces that account for language, literacy, and cultural nuances. In regions with limited connectivity, our solutions work offline, ensuring usability even in remote areas. Additionally, we provide hands-on training to ensure everyone, regardless of their digital skills, feels confident using the technology. This step-by-step approach helps build trust and familiarity with the system.
Starting Small: The Pilot Program Rather than launching large-scale implementations immediately, we begin with pilot programs to test the solutions in a controlled environment. Currently, we're running a pilot program with Asocaval in the municipality of Valdivia, Antioquia. During this phase, we track usage, measure efficiency gains, and gather feedback from users. This allows us to refine the technology and address any challenges before scaling to other areas.
Focusing on Capacity Building A key part of ensuring long-term success is empowering the community. We identify local "technology champions" who can support their peers in adopting and troubleshooting the solution. Ongoing technical support, updates, and resources are provided to maintain the system's sustainability. Over time, the goal is for the community to take full ownership of the technology, fostering independence and continued use.
Communicating Long-Term Value For technology to be embraced, its value must be clear. We share success stories and case studies to demonstrate the tangible impact of the solutions. Aligning our technology with the broader goals of the community—whether social, economic, or environmental—ensures that it becomes an integral part of their growth. We also encourage continuous feedback, creating an open communication loop for improvement.
Scaling and Sustaining Success As the technology proves successful in the pilot phase, we celebrate the milestones and achievements, inspiring confidence for further expansion. Our goal is to scale KoltiTrace MIS across all member organizations of Chocolate Colombia, and we are already planning for growth in other regions. Long-term financial sustainability is key, so we work closely with the community to develop strategies such as partnerships, grants, or even revenue generation to ensure the continued impact of the technology.
By carefully adapting our technology solutions to the specific needs of Colombia's cacao sector in Colombia, we're not only ensuring traceability and compliance but also enhancing productivity through data-driven insights. Our goal is to equip producers with the tools to optimize their practices and achieve long-term sustainability in every aspect of their operations." — Angie Quintero, Project Manager, KOLTIVA
By prioritizing empathy, inclusivity, and capacity building, we ensure that technology becomes a tool for empowerment and progress, not a barrier for community organizations. Colombia's cacao sector stands at a crossroads, with immense potential and complex challenges ahead. Through strategic collaborations, technological innovations, and a shared commitment to sustainability, stakeholders like KOLTIVA and Chocolate Colombia are leading the transformation of the industry. By fostering resilience, enhancing quality, and promoting ethical practices, Colombia is well-positioned to solidify its reputation as a premier producer of fine-flavor cacao while uplifting the lives of its cacao-growing communities.
Writer: Kumara Anggita, Content Writer
Co-Writer: Silvan Ziegler, Sr. Head of Markets Americas & Angie Quintero, Project Manager
Editor: Daniel Prasetyo, Head of Public Relations & Corporate Communications
About Writer:
Kumara Anggita, serving as Koltiva's dedicated Content Writer, brings a wealth of experience from her six-year tenure in journalism in the fields of humanities and lifestyle, as well as her role as a writer in the tech industry. Her deep-rooted passion for gender equality and sustainability spurred her to enhance her reporting and storytelling skills through the EmPower Media Bootcamp by UN Women. Now, Kumara utilizes her platform to advocate for sustainable practices and gender equality through her compelling writing.
Resources:
Procolombia (n.d.). Why is Colombian Chocolate so special?. This is Colombia. Retrieved from https://colombia.co/en/colombia-country/colombian-chocolate-special#:~:text=Colombian%20cacao%20is%20some%20of,and%20end%20its%20internal%20conflict.
USDA. (2024). The Colombian Cacao Sector – 2024 Update. Retrieved from https://apps.fas.usda.gov/newgainapi/api/Report/DownloadReportByFileName?fileName=The+Colombian+Cacao+Sector+-+2024+Update_Bogota_Colombia_CO2024-0011.pdf
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