With a share of more than 60% of the world’s cocoa, Ecuador is recognized for the production of fine aroma cocoa and high demand by the chocolate industry. It is estimated that some 120 thousand people find in the fruit their main source of livelihood. Seeking to contribute to the positioning of this country, the MOCCA program launched the Catalog of Cocoa from Ecuador that showcases the diversity of native cocoas that have growing commercial use.
MOCCA is a 7-year initiative funded by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) through its Food for Progress Program, which seeks to improve agricultural productivity and expand trade in agricultural products. The MOCCA project is being executed by a consortium led by TechnoServe. Lutheran World Relief leads the cocoa activities.
“The information provided through this catalogue will help interpret the genetic makeup of the different genotypes characterized on farmers’ farms and in cocoa collections,” explained Ryan Bathrick, Director of MOCCA.
The genetic characterization of the 77 samples collected in Ecuador was led by the National Institute of Agricultural Research of Ecuador (INIAP), with the support of the Alliance of Bioversity International and the International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT) and in collaboration with the Agricultural Research Service (ARS) of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).
The idea of developing a catalogue of native cocoa has been an expectation of many people and institutions active in the cocoa sector in Ecuador and was made possible thanks to MOCCA, said Rey Gastón Loor Solórzano, National Leader of the INIAP Coffee and Cocoa Research Program.
The catalogue presents a total of 16 descriptors that allow a precise identification of cocoa clones by their morphological and genetic characteristics. In addition to this initiative in Ecuador, there are catalogues for Nicaragua, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Peru and Trinidad and Tobago, through which it is intended not only to publicize the diversity of cocoa in the MOCCA countries, but also to promote their conservation and optimal use. Each collection included in the catalogue is presented with detailed information about its establishment, the key players and how to access the genetic material of interest.
Flower: 8 descriptors | Cob: 8 descriptors | Seed: 4 descriptors
MOCCA in Ecuador
In this country, MOCCA has formed 11 alliances with our partners: ANECACAO, APECAP, APEOSAE, Chocoben, Econutrition, FASES – IDB, Fortaleza del Valle, Olam, UNOCACE and UROCAL, through which we support more than 8,600 cocoa producers, providing integration into higher value markets, technical assistance, research, access to quality genetic material and promoting catalytic financing models.
Additionally, in Ecuador, through MOCCA, the country has been incorporated into the Map of Flavors, an initiative that emerged in 2017 with Lutheran World Relief, leader of the cocoa component of the MOCCA program and that since then has developed 85 unique cocoa flavor profiles in 6 countries, of which 15 profiles are from Ecuador, helping cooperatives and cocoa producers to better understand what cocoa they have and how to process it in the best way to access new and better markets.
About Bioversty -CIAT
In 2020, Bioversity International and CIAT joined forces to form the Bioversity International and CIAT Alliance. This Alliance aims to improve the sustainability and resilience of food and agricultural systems, using research and innovation to address global challenges such as climate change, biodiversity loss and food insecurity. The Alliance combines the expertise and resources of both organizations to more effectively address agricultural and environmental issues at a global level.
About INIAP
The National Institute for Agricultural Research (INIAP) is a public research entity in Ecuador, created in 1959, and operating under the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock. Its main mission is to promote scientific research, the generation of technologies, and innovation in the agricultural and forestry sector of the country.
For more information, please contact:
Gisselle Alemán Ayala
Regional Manager of Communication for Development | TechnoServe – MOCCA
galeman@tns.org
