The contribution of cocoa agroforestry to food security, adaptation and mitigation of

climate change

. Somarriba E 1*, Deheuvels, O.1, 2, Cerda, R.1, Detlefsen G1

12 February 2013

1: CATIE, Cartago, Turrialba 30501, Costa Rica 2: CIRAD, UMR System, F-34070 Montpellier, France

Corresponding author. Tel.: +506 25 58 25 93, fax: +506 25 58 20 45. E-mail address : esomarri@catie.ac.cr

Key cocoa numbers

• 8 million hectares under cocoa cultivation. Cocoa is a migratory crop. Main source of deforestation in West and Central Africa. Menace to remaining Congo forest.

• 2.5+ million smallholder families cultivate cocoa. 70% of cocoa farms < 5 ha, most farms <2 ha

• >80% of smallholders cultivate cocoa mixed with other crops and shade trees i.e. agroforestry

• Six types of cocoa production systems

Open sun, clonal cocoa, Ecuador

Specialized shade. Gliricidia sepium.

Productive shade. FHIA, Honduras

Bactris

gasipaes

Cordia aliodora

Theobroma

cacao

Musa AAA

Citrus aurantium

Mixed shade. Deheuvels, 2011

Rustic cocoa (Brazilian Cabruca). Sambuichi 2009

Amazonian successional cocoa agroforest

Family benefit (FB in US$/ha)

FB = Cash Flow + self-consumption value

Timber standing stock (dbh > 30 cm, m3/ha) in cocoa plantations in

Central America. Family savings $$$

Carbon stock (Mg C ha-1), plantation age (years) and carbon

accumulation rate (Mg C ha-1 year-1) in cocoa plantations in Central

America. 2011.

Compartiment Mean ± std. dev.

Soil 51±15

Aboveground biomass 49±35

Coarse roots 9,6±6,2

Fine roots 2,1±1,7

Coarse necromass 3,0±4,7

Fine necromass 0,6±0,5

Litter 1,1±1,3

Total 117±47

Age 23,5±12

Accumulation rate for C total+ 6,4±4,6

Accumulation rate for C in aboveground biomass 2,6±2,4

There is plenty of evidence that with good agroforestry design we

can simultaneously

• conserve biodiversity

• attain high cocoa yields

• secure food and nutrition to the family

• mitigate/adapt to climate change?

No relationship between biodiversity (various taxa) and cocoa yields. Clough et al. 2011. PNAS 108(20):8311-8316.

Tree cover affects cocoa yields negatively. Clough et al. 2011. PNAS 108(20):8311-8316.

Next steps • Institutional. Mainstreaming agroforestry in cocoa sector is

badly needed. AF subject missing in most cocoa development programs worldwide, more funding for long term research

• Science/technology. Optimal design (functional traits, landscapes) and management models are promising research fields. Need better assessment of the contribution of cocoa to food and nutritional security of rural families

• Development. Cocoa industry is pushing for higher yields by promoting use of improved genetics and more fertilizers. Unfortunately, intensification of cultivation usually comes along with reduction of shade levels and simplification of botanical diversity of shade canopies. Need to demonstrate that agroforestry has solutions to this conflict.

One crucial task: educate farmers…and professionals

Thank you