{"id":1987,"date":"2023-05-18T10:39:00","date_gmt":"2023-05-18T08:39:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/makit.edu.umontpellier.fr\/?p=1987"},"modified":"2024-04-04T10:41:09","modified_gmt":"2024-04-04T08:41:09","slug":"cocoa-agroforestry-in-west-and-central-africa-from-definition-to-innovation-and-implementation-pathways-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/makit.edu.umontpellier.fr\/fr\/2023\/05\/18\/cocoa-agroforestry-in-west-and-central-africa-from-definition-to-innovation-and-implementation-pathways-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Cocoa agroforestry in West and Central Africa: from definition to innovation and implementation pathways"},"content":{"rendered":"

West and Central Africa (WCA) are responsible for 71 % of world cocoa production, with an annual output (2013-2014) of some 3.1 million tons, 6 million hectares of cultivation area, and (assuming an average 2.5 ha per family) involving some 2.6 million smallholder farmers. Cocoa is cultivated mainly in open-sun monocultures or under very light shade; it is estimated that less than 30 % of the area cultivated with cacao in WCA is under tree shade i.e. in agroforestry systems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n

Agroforestry is now widely promoted in cocoa cultivation in WCA to sustain high cocoa yields, conserve wild and agrobiodiversity, store atmospheric carbon in woody biomass, reduce air temperature, and produce timber, fruits, and other tree-based products to generate additional income, increase food security and reduce the financial vulnerability of the rural families. To transform agroforestry policies into practice, farmers, governments, and chocolate and certification companies need a definition of cocoa agroforestry that can be used to both benchmark their activities and measure progress toward clearly defined goals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n

Different stakeholders use different definitions of cocoa agroforestry causing a lot of confusion. Farmers organizations and cocoa companies either: 1) adhere to definitions set by certification companies (e.g. Rainforest Alliance), sectoral platforms (e.g. ISCO), public\u2013private initiatives (e.g. Cocoa and Forest Initiative) or government bodies (e.g. COCOBOD in Ghana, Conceil du Cacao -CCC- in Cote d\u2019Ivoire), or 2) develop their own definition of agroforestry (e.g. Halba, Lindt & Sprungli, CEMOI, Nitidae, etc.).<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n

A whitepaper is being written to help in the discussions on the pros and cons, reaches and limits of current definitions of cocoa agroforestry in WCA (Whitepaper<\/a>). An inspection of the definitions adopted by different stakeholders in the cocoa value chain in WCA (see Annex 1 of the whitepaper) shows that the debate\/controversy is not on whether a production system is agroforestry, but on what specific management parameters (trees per hectare, number of tree species, percent tree canopy cover, etc.) it should have. A scientific manuscript analyzing the strengths and limitations of these management parameters is available ici<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n

A scientifically solid discussion on whether these management parameters help farmers and land managers to achieve their agroforestry goals is at the center of the workshop proposed below.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n

We (CATIE, MAK\u2019IT-University of Montpellier, CIRAD-UMR-ABSys, the Sustainable Agricultural Systems and Engineering Lab of Westlake University, the International Union of Agroforestry (IUAF), Mars, and the cocoa agroforestry scientific and application\/innovation communities) will hold an international 2-days workshop to contribute to the heated, on-going debate on the definition of cocoa agroforestry in West-Central Africa (WCA) and on the ways to innovations and implementation at scale. The outcomes of this workshop will be directly relevant to cocoa production in Asia and America.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n

The 2-days workshop is scheduled to take place on 15-16 May 2023, in a mixed format combining an in-person gathering in Agropolis, Montpellier, France with many others linked virtually via Zoom. The first day (we call it \u201cscience day\u201d) will be devoted to cocoa agroforestry science; the second day (we call it \u201cinnovations\/applications day\u201d) will be devoted to discussions on how to mainstream cocoa agroforestry in WCA. The workshop will be held in English and French; simultaneous translation will be available. If you plan to participate in person, please make sure you bring your headphones with you because translation will only be available remotely via Zoom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n

In the \u201cscience day\u201d cocoa agroforestry scientists will convene to:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n

    \n\n
  1. Review cocoa agroforestry models in use in WCA and America<\/li>\n\n\n\n\n
  2. Review current definitions for cocoa agroforestry (see Annex 1 of the whitepaper)<\/li>\n\n\n\n\n
  3. Prepare a succinct, science-based report on the reaches and limitations of various cocoa agroforestry definitions to achieve the key goals. This report will be the basis of a manuscript to be submitted to a scientific journal.<\/li>\n\n\n\n\n
  4. Work in specialized groups to assess how management parameters (tree density, canopy cover, species richness, botanical composition, spatiotemporal patterns of tree and crop planting, and the vertical stratification of the shade canopy) allow farmers to achieve the following key goals:<\/li>\n\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n\n
    \n\n

    1. Maintain or increase cocoa yields (by improving soil fertility, reducing pests and diseases, reducing shading, or reducing competition for water)<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n

    2. Produce timber, fruits, medicine, firewood, etc. to increase and diversify farmers’ income and food security and reduce financial risks<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n

    3. Conserve wild biodiversity (list plant or animal species targeted for conservation)<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n

    4. Store carbon in woody biomass and increase soil organic matter to mitigate & improve adaptation to climate change<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

    Adopting a definition is just a first step to mainstream cocoa agroforestry in WCA. The key challenge is to make it happen. On the \u201cinnovations\/applications day\u201d representatives of the cocoa industry, European national cocoa platforms known as ISCOs (Switzerland, Germany, France, Belgium, Netherlands), NGOs, certification companies, governments, donors, and other key stakeholders in the cocoa value chain will meet to discuss the following guiding questions:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n

    \n\n

    1. What current agroforestry models used around the world can be amplified in WCA e.g. cocoa – tree crop systems (e.g. cashews, citrus, etc.), cocoa\u2013timber, mixed-shade systems, etc.? Agroforestry models and approaches to the optimal design of cocoa agroforestry systems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n

    2. Which obstacles are holding up agroforestry development and adoption in WCA and how to overcome those obstacles? How to scale up and mainstream agroforestry production models at the community and country levels? Farmers\u2019 adoption of agroforestry innovations (including the analysis of legal frameworks on farm timber).<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n

    3. What are economically viable models (and their institutional underpinnings such as markets and property\/use rights) that are available for cocoa agroforestry in WCA? What are the finance mechanisms that could help support greater adoption and use of cocoa agroforestry systems? To what extent are carbon initiatives and payments for environmental services viable propositions for smallholder farmers? Profitability and cost-effective implementation of agroforestry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n

    4. How can we monitor the progress of on-farm implementation of agroforestry transformations? Technologies and approaches to monitoring agroforestry development and the plot, region, and national levels.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\n

    The second day of the workshop will:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n

      \n\n
    1. Include a selection of presentations on different agroforestry models tested in Africa and the Americas, <\/li>\n\n\n\n\n
    2. Expose the potentials and limitations of agroforestry in terms of profitability and management of financial risks and farmers’ adoption, and 3) show the advances in remote sensing and other large-scale tree planting monitoring technologies in cocoa production regions. This second day of the workshop features six panels to 1) evaluate the applicability of various agroforestry models to WCA, 2) discuss current approaches adopted by chocolate companies and sustainable cocoa platforms to mainstream agroforestry, <\/li>\n\n\n\n\n
    3. Debate on the reaches and limitations of carbon credits, biodiversity conservation and payments for environmental services to stimulate the expansion of cocoa agroforestry, and <\/li>\n\n\n\n\n
    4. Explore how cocoa agroforestry can contribute to the development of fine flavour cocoa value chains.<\/li>\n\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
      \n\n
      \n\n

      09:00 \u2013 09:10 Opening<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n

      Eduardo Somarriba<\/mark>, CATIE\/MAK\u2019IT\/CIRADUMR-ABSys, Costa Rica<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n

      09:10 – 09:30 Prelude: Controversies and Transitions<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n

      Patrick Caron<\/mark>, Directeur MAK\u2019IT, University of Montpellier, Montpellier, France<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n

      09:30 \u2013 09:55 Cocoa agroforestry in West and Central Africa<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n

      Richard Asare<\/mark>, IITA, Ibadan, Nigeria<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n

      09:55 \u2013 10:20 A review of cocoa agroforestry definitions<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n

      Tom C. Wanger<\/mark>, Sustainable Agricultural Systems & Engineering Lab, West Lake University, China<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n

      10:20 \u2013 10:50 Shade canopy density variables and optimal agroforestry design<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n

      Eduardo Somarriba<\/mark>, CATIE\/MAK\u2019IT\/CIRADUMR-ABSys, Costa Rica<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n

      10:50 \u2013 11:00 Q&A<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n

      \n\n

      11:00 \u2013 11:30 Coffee & Chocolate Break<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n

      11:30 \u2013 12:30 Break-up groups:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n

      \n\n

      1. Maintain or increase cocoa yields (by improving soil fertility, reducing pests and diseases, reducing shading, or reducing competition for water). Group leader: <\/strong>Martin Ten Hoppen<\/mark>, CIRAD, Montpellier, France<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n

      2. Production of timber, fruits, medicine, firewood, etc. to generate income and profit, provide food\/fibre security, diversify production and reduce financial risk. Group leader: Stephane Saj <\/mark>or Luis Orozco<\/mark><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n

      3. Generate income and profit, provide food\/fibre security, diversify production and reduce financial risk. Group leader: Francois Ruf<\/mark> (TBC)<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n

      4. Conserve wild biodiversity. Group leader: Tom Wanger<\/mark><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n

      5. Store carbon in woody biomass and increase soil organic matter to mitigate & improve adaptation to climate change. Group leader: Rebecca Asare<\/mark> (TBC)<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\n

      12:30 \u2013 13:00 Break-up groups report to plenary (6 minutes by group)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n

      13:00 \u2013 14:00 Lunch<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n

      14:00 \u2013 14:20 Cabrucas: rustic cocoa agroforestry systems from Brazil <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n

      Deborah Faria<\/mark>, Universidade Estadual de Santa Cruz, Ilheus, Bah\u00eda, Brazil (TBC)<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n

      14:20 \u2013 14:40 Dynamic agroforestry systems<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n

      Joachim Milz<\/mark>, ECOTOP, Germany<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n

      14:40 \u2013 15:00 Cocoa \u2013 Tree crop (citrus, cashew, oil palm, etc.) agroforestry models in WCA: design, yields and financial performance <\/strong>
      WCA cocoa agroforestry expert (TBC)<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n

      15:00 \u2013 15:20 Cocoa agroforestry models from Brazil: design, yields and financial performance <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n

      Tony Gama<\/mark>, Universidade Estadual do Norte
      Fluminense Darcy Ribeiro<\/mark>, RJ, Brasil<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n

      15:20 \u2013 15:40 Cocoa-timber agroforestry systems in Latin America: designs, yields and financial performance<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n

      Luis Orozco<\/mark>, Fundaci\u00f3n Nica-France, Nicaragua<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n

      16:10 \u2013 17:10 Panel 1: Agroforestry models in WCA and America<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n

      Moderator: <\/strong>
      Goetz Schroth<\/mark>
      Panellists: <\/strong>
      Joachim Milz<\/mark>
      L\u00e9o Godard<\/mark>
      Nitidae (TBC)<\/mark>
      Richard Asare<\/mark>
      Luis Orozco<\/mark><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n

      17:10 \u2013 17:30 20 Monitoring trees in cocoa agroforestry systems using remote sensing techniques<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n

      Jessica Ertel<\/mark>, World Resources Institute<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n

      17:30 \u2013 17:45 15 Summary of the science day & Closur<\/strong>e<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n

      Bruno Rapidel<\/mark><\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\n\n

      \n\n
      \n\n\n

      09:00 – 09:20 Profitability and risk management of cocoa agroforestry models<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n

      Beatrice Obiri<\/mark>, Deputy Director, CSIRFORIG, Ghana<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n

      09:20 \u2013 09:40 Assessing the financial performance of cocoa agroforestry models using the FarmTree tool<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n

      Arnoud Braun<\/mark>, CEO, FarmTree Tool, University of Wageningen, The Netherlands<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n

      09:40 \u2013 10:00 Adoption by farmers<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n

      Francois Ruf<\/mark>, CIRAD (TBC)<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n

      10:00 \u2013 11:00 Panel 2: Agroforestry policies and implementation strategies by
      NGOs, sectoral platforms, and certification companies<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n

      Moderator: <\/strong>TBC
      Panellists: <\/strong>
      Stephanie Gagliardi<\/mark>, PUR Projet; European International Sustainable Cocoa Platforms, ISCOs
      Charles Snoeck<\/mark> (TBC); WCA expert or company representative (TBC)<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n

      11:00 \u2013 11:30 Coffee & Chocolate Break<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n

      11:30 \u2013 12:30 Panel 3: Agroforestry policies and implementation strategies by chocolate companies and Governments<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n

      Moderator: <\/strong>TBC
      Panellists: <\/strong>
      Ethan Budiansky<\/mark>, World Cocoa Foundation
      Samantha Forbes<\/mark>, MARS; Halba Chocolates
      Petra Heid<\/mark>, Head Sustainability, Halba, Switzerland
      Asma Chemlal
      Barry Callebaut<\/mark><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n

      12:30 \u2013 12:45 Cocoa agroforestry systems and the conservation of bat diversity for pest control<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n

      Diogo Ferreira or Cecilia Montauban or Ivana Budinsky (TBC)
      <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n

      12:45 \u2013 13:00 Cocoa agroforestry systems and the conservation of trees and
      insects<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n

      Bohdan Lojka<\/mark>, Czech University of Life Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n

      13:00 \u2013 14:00 Lunch<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n

      14:00 \u2013 14:15 Cocoa agroforestry systems and the conservation of bird diversity<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n

      Ruth Bennet<\/mark>, Smithsonian\u2019s National Zoo, Conservation Biology Institute<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n

      14:15 \u2013 15:00 Panel 4: Conservation of biodiversity in cocoa agroforestry systems <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n

      Moderator: <\/mark><\/strong>
      Stephane Saj<\/mark>
      Panellists: <\/strong>
      Ruth Bennet<\/mark>
      Deborah Faria<\/mark>
      Andreanna Welch<\/mark>
      Bohdan Lojka<\/mark><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n

      15:05 \u2013 15:25 Coffee and Chocolate Break<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n

      15:25 \u2013 16:15 Panel 5: Carbon credits to mainstream cocoa agroforestry <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n

      Moderator: <\/strong>
      Rebecca Ashley Asare<\/mark>, Director of Programmes & Research, Nature Conservation Research Centre (NCRC), Accra, Ghana
      Panellists: <\/strong>
      L\u00e9o Godard<\/mark>, Nitidae
      Christian Bunn<\/mark>, Alliance CIAT-BIOVERSITY (TBC)
      Thomas Fungenzi<\/mark>, Mars.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n

      16:15 \u2013 17:15 Panel 6: Agroforestry and fine flavour cocoa<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n

      Moderator: <\/strong>
      Liz Toomey<\/mark>, USAID-Madagascar
      Panellists: <\/strong>
      Jim Hazen<\/mark>, TSIRO Chief of Party, Madagascar;
      Jerry Toth<\/mark>, TM Alliance, Ecuador;
      Darin Sukha<\/mark>, Cocoa Research Center, Trinidad\/West Indies; Philippe Bastide<\/mark>, Cacao Expert, Cacao Consultant & Cie, France<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n

      17:15 \u2013 17:50 Plenary discussion and brainstorming: the way forward<\/strong> (including the reading of the declaration on cocoa agroforestry definition)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n

      Eduardo Somarriba<\/mark><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n

      17:50 \u2013 17:55 Closure<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\n

      <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n

      Event’s Flyer – PDF 939 Ko<\/span><\/a>T\u00e9l\u00e9charger<\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n
      Event’s Agenda – PDF 830 Ko<\/span><\/a>T\u00e9l\u00e9charger<\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n

      Event’s logistic details<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

      \"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

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