TerradelSud

1. Describe the educational programme you have attended: 

 

This event aims to strengthen the cocoa´s scientific and commercial level; not only to our country but also to foreign countries. Everybody involved in the cacao industry will be gathered in this Summit, since topics about production, commerce and related matters are going to be discussed in it.

This event is organized in association with ANECACAO and APROCAFA, which guarantees a world class event.

 

For more info: www.anecacao.com

 

It has 3 main activities: 

 

1- Fair exhibition with stalls showing different companies, associations and institutions dedicated to cacao activities ( growers, equipment, producers and service providers) 

 

2-  Conferences where leading experts and companies are giving presentations in regard of cacao, covering all the aspects, with questions and answer sessions. 

 

3- Field trip:  visit to one of the leading cocoa farms “Las Cañas” , where all the theory learned during the conference is showed in practice, by a well explained tour. 

 

2. What were your learning objectives? Describe how they were or were not met.

 

We had three main objectives: 

 

1- To learn all the aspects of cocoa industry in order to have a integral vision. 

 

The conference covered all the aspects and therefore provided the necessary information to understand the complexities of this industry. 

 

Identifying the strengths and weakness , opportunities and constrains of starting a holistic cacao program in India. 

 

2- To connect with experts, producers and service providers. 

 

The exhibitors as well as some of the speakers offered us the possibility to exchange perspectives, realities and knowledge about cacao and its potential. 

 

3- To explore possible synergies between Ecuador and India: to develop sustainable business models, knowledge exchange, research and education programs in the cacao and chocolate sectors. 

 

The cacao plant originates for the amazon basin in Ecuador. (historical and DNA  test proves more than 5000 years). Therefore, the amount of knowledge and experiences in cacao is phenomenal. 

 

India planted its first cacao plants in 1960, and has not historical background on cacao. 

 

Coffee Ideas! in his endeavour to promote Indian Organic Cacao, is in close collaboration with organic cocoa farmers associations, is buying raw cacao to be sold under our brand Marc’s  Organic cacao. 

 

During the last year we had visited several cacao farms and meet the farmers in Kerala and Karnataka. We learned that there is lots of scope for improvement, in the field of : 

 

Pest control,  genetic material (different varieties), post harvest, manufacturing ( value addition) and marketing. 

 

3. How did this learning experience affect your current activities in Auroville? What new activities have been stimulated by this learning experience?

 

The impact of this MT&D  program will empower Coffee Ideas! in the following areas: 

 

1- Education

 

For organic cacao farmers: organising capacity building and educational programs for cacao farmers by organising workshops on best practices, with the help of experts from Ecuador. 

 

For Consumers and food producers: organising workshops on the health benefits of cacao and how to use it in recipes like confectioneries, beverages,  fitness snacks, etc.

 

 

2- Value addition

 

On cocoa products: we have learn the process of roasting cacao and making cacao nibs ( peeled and crushed cacao ) . This product is not available in the main stream in India and there are very few producers since the demand is still not developed. We intend to acquired the necessary equipment to launch Organic Cacao NIBS in the near future, in other to expand the range of cacao products under brand name of Marc’s Organic cacao. 

 

 

4. In what ways do you think this MT&D programme could expand in order to accommodate other Aurovilians? (optional)

 

  Exiting food producers in Auroville could include cacao NIBS, by creating new recipes and products. Therefore helping them to innovate and add organic ingredients with 100 % traceability. 

 

 

* Food processing units in Auroville are growing since the local and national demand for healthy products with traceability is increasing.  

 

    5. Other comments (optional):

As you can see this research project does’n t start and end in this cacao summit, since we have been visiting  and collaborating, cacao tasting etc, for the last 3 months in Colombia and Ecuador, and we will continue in Peru next month at our own cost, Coffee Ideas, since this is a big expense(,Matilde , also executive of Coffe ideas  is travelling with me, and our kids ), the help we have got of PCg was important for us to feel supported in this adventure , and wanted to be associated with PCG because the educational part of the overall project.