Cacao for Peace

Left cover photo: Screenshots of producers in their cacao farms taken during newly adapted virtual trainings. Right cover photo: Purdue master student preparing plant digestions for sampling.

Cacao for Peace

FY 2020 Q3 REPORT

Award # AID-514-T-16-00001

April 1st 2020 - June 30th 2020

USAID/USDA Colombia Cacao for Peace | FY2020 Q3 Report

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Contents

LIST OF ACRONYMS .................................................................................................................. 1

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ............................................................................................................ 2

PROGRAM OVERVIEW .............................................................................................................. 4

1.1 Program Description ............................................................................................................ 4

1.2 Geographic Area Targeted ................................................................................................... 5

1.3 Key Partners and Stakeholders ............................................................................................ 5

1.4 Mobilized and Leveraged Funding ...................................................................................... 6

1.5 Deliverables Status............................................................................................................... 8

PROGRAM FOCUS AREAS ....................................................................................................... 12

3.1. Cooperative Research ............................................................................................................ 12

3.2 Agricultural Extension ............................................................................................................ 16

3.3 Education ............................................................................................................................ 1918

3.4 Institutional Technical Assistance and other ................................................................. 2220

MONITORING AND EVALUATION .................................................................................... 2221

ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING ..................................................................................... 2625

NEW AGREEMENTS WITH IMPLEMENTING PARTNERS AND OTHERS ................... 2625

FINANCIAL SUMMARY ....................................................................................................... 2625

STATUS OF PERSONNEL ..................................................................................................... 2625

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LIST OF ACRONYMS Agrosavia Colombian Corporation for Agricultural Research APOMD Agricultores de Productos Orgánicos del Municipio de Dibulla ARS USDA Agricultural Research Service Cd Cadmium CfP Cacao for Peace CIAT International Center for Tropical Agriculture FAS USDA Foreign Agricultural Service Fedecacao National Federation of Cacaoteros GIS Geographic Information System ICA Instituto Colombiano Agropecuario LGU USDA Land Grant University MARD Colombian Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development MT Metric Ton PSU Pennsylvania State University SENA Colombian National Training Service (Servicio Nacional de Aprendizaje) SHRS Subtropical Horticultural Research Station SNP Single Nucleotide Polymorphism SOW Statement of Work TRCBD USDA/FAS Trade and Regulatory Capacity Building Division

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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY “Cacao for Peace” (CfP) is a five-year program that seeks to strengthen Colombia’s public and private institutions in the cacao sector. The objectives are to increase cacao yields, increase cacao farmer incomes, and contribute to rural stability and peace in Colombia. Through CfP, USDA builds Colombia’s research and extension capability leading to enhanced training for cacao farmers. This is the program’s seventeenth quarterly report detailing major accomplishments and activities. The period covered by this report is April 1st to June 30th, 2020. In FY 2020 Q3, CfP collaborated with partners to implement the following activities and achieve the following results. Activities and results are grouped by CfP focus areas, Cooperative Research, Agricultural Extension, Education and Institutional Technical Assistance. While many of the activities were disrupted due to the COVID-19 pandemic, CfP made significant progress towards its objectives. See a summary of FY20 Q3 accomplishments below.

Cooperative Research CfP Cacao Mapping Team This quarter the CfP mapping team launched a beta version of the GIS digital soil map platform found online here. The CfP mapping team comprised of USDA/FAS, CIAT, USDA/NRCS, and Penn State with USDA/ARS serving an advisory role, produced the online digital map covering the Sierra Nevada de Santa region. The online map includes the percentage of sand, silt and clay; soil organic carbon (SOC); pH; phosphorus (P); Potassium (K); Effective Cation Exchange Capacity (CICE); and Water Holding Capacity (WHC) at spatial resolution of 30 meters. This map may be used by cacao sector producers and stakeholders to make more informed cultivation decisions. The CfP team leveraged funding from USDA’s Borlaug Fellowship Program (approximately $35,000 in-kind) to develop a water holding capacity map layer. The layer serves as a key input to the mapping project’s hydrological assessment to determine water availability for optimal and sustainable cacao production.

Graphic: Water available content (water available for cacao and other plants) in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta region.

Screen Capture: GIS Cacao for Peace Soil Information and Cocoa Genomics Platform https://arcg.is/1HmGrL

https://arcg.is/1HmGrL



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Agricultural Extension From mid-March to June, CfP conducted training activities on cacao harvest and post-harvest management, fertilization, irrigation, cacao nurseries, records management, integrated pest and disease management, climate change, and soil conservation. This quarter 256 additional producers received virtual trainings with CfP extension agents. These training activities will allow farmers to apply for Good Agricultural Practices (BPA, Spanish acronym) certification. CfP quickly transitioned to providing virtual technical assistance to cacao farmers through the use of smartphone audio/video calls, videos and photos to accommodate restrictions in place from the outbreak of COVID-19.

Education Three students successfully completed their M.S. degrees in August of 2019: Jhony Bolanos, Johan Restrepo and Alejandro Gil. The last of the group, Lina Tami will complete her studies via distance learning due to COVID-19 and is now projected to graduate in the summer of 2020. Jhony Bolanos, Alejandro Gil and Lina Tami are continuing their education at Penn State as PhD students funded by grants obtained by Penn State. During Q3, 2020 Jhony Bolanos submitted his publication and it is in review. Alejandro Gil is in final revisions for his publication and Lina Tami’s is in final revisions of her thesis. Three CfP-Colfuturo scholarship recipients attending Purdue University are engaged in distance learning as a result of COVID-19 and will finish their master’s requirements by December of 2020. Two of the students are in PhD programs and will be defending their master’s thesis July 2020.

Institutional Technical Assistance This quarter no additional field trials were conducted in support of the CfP cacao disease control project due to Covid-19, and the inability of technicians to travel to the field or work in the lab. However, in May 2020 the CfP team

Photo: Upcoming defense seminar for MS student at Purdue University

Photos: Cacao producers supported via CfP mobile extension.


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leveraged funding from an FAS agreement with the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) to acquire equipment and supplies for the Agrosavia study team. These purchases include a nitrogen evaporator, field application equipment, a datalogger, two scales, a psychrometer and an anemometer estimated at $16,390.00 USD. PROGRAM OVERVIEW

1.1 Program Description The United States confectionery industry, which relies on cacao imports, accounts for $35 billion in annual retail sales, and directly employees 55,000 people in the United States. In addition, more than 400,000 jobs in agriculture, retail, transportation and other industries rely in part on the sale of confections. For every job that is created in confectionery, another seven are supported in related industries. Annually the U.S. confectionery sector purchases more than $770 million in sugar, $450 million in U.S. dairy products, $190 million in peanuts (mostly from U.S. farmers), and $150 million in California almonds and nuts. Annual exports of U.S. chocolate and cocoa products are approximately $1.7 billion (up 145% in the past 10 years). CfP has three high level goals: 1) boost cacao output from Colombia to the U.S. to ensure the U.S. confectionery industry continues to have a reliable source of cacao, 2) develop the U.S. fine flavor chocolate market through increased access to fine flavor, fine aroma Colombian cacao, and 3) contribute to rural stability and peace in Colombia. In order to achieve these three goals, CfP will strengthen Colombia’s public and private institutions in the cacao sector by:

1) strengthening local cacao research capacity for the development of new practices and inputs.

2) increasing in-country capacity for agricultural extension and providing agricultural extension assistance that increases productivity and cacao farmer incomes.

3) providing educational opportunities for cacao researchers and stakeholders to obtain post-graduate degrees and training and

4) providing technical assistance through a value chain analysis study and follow-up activities; developing a cacao market information system; identifying pesticides to combat cacao diseases; and establishing maximum residue levels for cacao disease pesticides to prevent trade disruptions.

While cacao is native to the region, Latin America lags substantially behind west Africa in cacao production. In 2014, Latin America produced approximately 16% of the total world production of cacao. Within Latin America, Colombia is the fifth largest cacao producer, after Brazil, Ecuador, the Dominican Republic and Peru. In 2017, Colombia produced 60,535 metric tons (MT) of cacao. In 2016/2017, Cote d’Ivoire, the top global producer, is expected to produce 1,900,000 MT of cacao. Colombian and regional Industry experts believe that cacao is an underdeveloped domestic industry with great potential. These experts are confident that Colombia can become one of the largest cacao producers in the world. Rural violence and lawlessness have negatively impacted agricultural investments and growth in rural Colombia.


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The potential growth of the cacao sector has substantial promise for being an engine for job creation and inclusive economic growth within Colombia. Foremost, cacao is produced by small-scale farmers with very low incomes. According to Fedecacap, the National Federation of Cacaoteros, there are 38,000 cacao producers in Colombia. As cacao comprises a critical cornerstone within the rural economy of Colombia, increasing cacao yields and cacao farmers’ incomes represents a strong potential opportunity for advancing USAID’s developmental objectives in the country.

1.2 Geographic Area Targeted In support of the cacao extension component of the project, CfP continues to work in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta region and Valencia and Tierralta with CIAT and Fedecacao. In support of the cacao research component, CfP is working to strengthen Agrosavia’s capacity in Tibaitata and Palmira and is working with CIAT to map cacao suitability in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta region.

1.3 Key Partners and Stakeholders CfP has brought together and coordinated key partners interested in strengthening the cacao-chocolate value chain in Colombia through its activities and coordination efforts. CfP is working with these partners to conduct activities in the areas of 1) cooperative research, 2) agricultural extension, 3) education and 4) institutional technical assistance. Activities in these areas will assist Colombia increase cacao productivity and yields for the country to reach its productive potential.

Current Activities Sites:

• Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta Region

o Dibulla, Perico Aguao, San Rafael

• Aracataca – Fundación, Magdalena

• Valencia and Tierralta, Cordoba

• Bogotá

• Palmira


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Table 1 Key Partners

Focus Area

Partner Cooperative Research

Agricultural Extension

Education Technical Assistance

Agrosavia ✓ ✓

Agricultural Research Service (USDA)

✓ ✓ ✓

CIAT ✓ ✓ ✓

Colfuturo ✓ ✓

Fedecacao ✓

Fulbright-Colombia ✓ ✓

Natural Resources Conservation Service (USDA)

✓

Pennsylvania State University ✓ ✓ ✓

Purdue University ✓ ✓

Trade and Regulatory Capacity Building (FAS/Global Programs)

✓ ✓

In addition, CfP involved the following key stakeholders as participants and/or collaborators in relevant activities:

• Agustin Codazzi Geographical Institute (IGAC, Spanish acronym)

• Casa Luker

• Colombian Ministry of Agriculture (MADR, Spanish acronym)

• Alexander Von Humboldt Institute (Colombian biological resources research institute)

• Compañía Nacional de Chocolates

• Rural Agricultural Planning Unit (UPRA, Spanish acronym) of MADR

• Instituto Colombiano Agropecuario (ICA)

• Governación del Departamento de Magdalena

• Servicio Nacional de Aprendizaje (SENA)

1.4 Mobilized and Leveraged Funding USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service contributed a significant amount of financial resources to the project, and the CfP team succeeded in mobilizing and leveraging funding from partners. To date, the program has accumulated $2,543,585 in USDA/FAS in-kind contributions, mobilized and leveraged funds.


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Table 2 USDA In-Kind Contributions, Mobilized and Leveraged Funds

Contributor Expense Amount

USDA In-Kind

FAS/Bogotá Travel, Salary, and Services $431,803

FAS/Washington D.C. Penn State Research Symposium $25,000

FAS/Washington D.C. Cochran Fellowship Program (5) $34,000

FAS/Washington D.C. Borlaug and Scientific Exchanges (4) $140,000

FAS/Washington D.C. Ecuador Study $52,000

Sub-total $682,803

Mobilized and Leveraged

Agrosavia In-kind Contribution $187,472

Colfuturo Scholarship $120,000

FEDECACAO Training and Technical Assistance $41,804

Fulbright-Colombia Scholarships $293,000

IICA Cacao Disease Control $16,390

Pennsylvania State University

Tuition Waivers for Fulbright Scholars

$330,600


PhD Funding for 3 CfP Scholars $530,000

Purdue University Partial Tuition Waiver $89,460

UNODC Training and Technical Assistance $252,056

Sub-total $1,860,782

Total $2,543,585


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1.5 Deliverables Status

The table below provides the status of project deliverables organized by focus area and partner(s).

Focus Area Partner(s) Deliverable Estimated Completion

End Users

Cooperative

Research

Penn State A technical document containing the organization and implementation of the cacao research meeting

Complete CIAT, Agrosavia,

FEDECACAO, Colombian

Cacao Researchers, US

based cacao researchers

Technical document describing the cacao research agenda for the Caribbean

node including priority cacao research areas as identified and agreed upon by

the participants of the strategic planning session in during the research meeting

in Barranquilla, May 2017

Complete

Seed grant program. Seed grant will be used to fund cadmium reduction in cacao through gene editing project.

Complete

Proposal for implementation of a strategy for future funding of collaborative research in Colombia. Proposal should analyze the current funding sources available in-country and internationally.

Complete Updated version by November 2020

Public CfP web https://plantscience.psu.edu/research/labs/guiltinan/cacao-for-peace based multi‐stakeholder knowledge platform for cacao

Complete

Scientific publication in high impact journal

December

2020

USDA/ARS

and

Agrosavia

Collaborative Research Agreement between ARS and Agrosavia Complete Agrosavia and the

Colombian cacao research

community, extensionists,

cacao producers

Identify new cacao collections of new genetics from Colombia TBD – Postponed due to COVID-19

A rationalized cacao collection with minimum mislabeling and redundancy.

TBD – Postponed due to COVID-19

https://plantscience.psu.edu/research/labs/guiltinan/cacao-for-peace

https://plantscience.psu.edu/research/labs/guiltinan/cacao-for-peace


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Identified germplasm accessions, and alleles for key agronomic traits and quality

attributes


Develop breeding activities that will generate new cacao varieties with

improved traits such as high productivity, disease resistance and new rootstocks

that limit cadmium uptake


Test a set of superior cacao clones developed by ARS under high disease

pressure


Assess the biodiversity collection of cacao disease causing organisms TBD – Postponed due to COVID-19

Research to improve the management and production and address priority

issues, such as cadmium and heavy metal toxicities.


NRCS, CIAT,

PSU

Cacao soil, genetics, and water supply digital map (Suitability Map) December 2020

Agrosavia, CIAT, U.

Nacional, Fedecacao,

extensionists, CfP, and

cacao producers Penn State Cacao genetic diversity map for Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta region including

information on the genetic type, location, photographs and other notes on trees

growing on farms in our target communities

Complete View here

Database including the information of the cacao genetic survey: sampled plant

locations, raw SNP data files for all genotypes, genetic ancestry analysis

Complete View here

Specific recommendations for future improvement of genetic diversity and or

potential marketing strategies based on genetic varieties

December 2020

Scientific publication in high impact journal December 2020

CIAT Gene edited cacao tested for cadmium non-absorption in a greenhouse setting. Estimated September 2020, however completion

Agrosavia and the

Colombian cacao research

community, cacao

companies, cacao producers




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date unknown due to COVID-19

Agricultural

Extension

CIAT

FEDECACAO

Demonstration farms implemented

105/105

Complete

Cacao producers,

FEDECACAO, Cacao

Extensionists

Activities led by CIAT and FEDECACAO, supported by USDA-USAID leading to its

Capacity Building for Training and technical assistance for Fedecacao.

In Progress

12/2020

Education Fulbright-

Colombia,

Penn State

University

Four postgraduate degrees in agricultural fields from Penn State University for

Colombian cacao researchers

3 of 4

graduated.

Final

student will

graduate by

December

of 2020.

Colombian Cacao

Researchers, Colombian

cacao sector MSc. research projects in support of CfP objectives

Four graduate research theses and peer reviewed publications. PSU will ensure

that theses and peer‐reviewed publications are aligned with the Cacao for Peace

objectives stated in the USAID/USDA Participating Agency Program Agreement.

Theses

Completed

8/2019.

Publications

by 12/2020

Colfuturo

Purdue

University

Three Colombian post‐graduates trained to contribute to the Colombian cacao

sector

December

2020

Three graduate research theses and peer reviewed publications. Purdue will

ensure that theses and peer‐reviewed publications are aligned with the Cacao

for Peace objectives stated in the USAID/USDA Participating Agency Program

Agreement.

Research thesis concepts. Researchers will develop research proposal concepts

during the first few months at Purdue which will be presented to FAS in a virtual

workshop for comments.

Technical

Assistance

Purdue

CIAT

Organization and execution of workshop to present cacao value-chain study and

solicit feedback

Complete


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Final version of the supply chain and extension studies. Final products must

be delivered in Spanish and English. Study will include analysis of Ecuador

value-chain to determine how the country has been able to grow into a major

international cacao exporter.

English

Complete

Spanish

Complete

USAID, CfP, FEDECACAO,

Red, Agrosavia, U. Nacional,

other key stakeholders

Value-chain Study Booklet in English and Spanish. Complete

Organization and execution of workshop to present final Value-chain Study Complete

UFL –

Cadmium

Research

Training

Training Program for an Agrosavia scientist actively involved in cacao research

(Dr. Montenegro)

Complete Agrosavia

Final Report Complete Agrosavia and CfP

USDA/FAS/

TSCBD

Fungicides registered for use and available to farmers TBD –

Postponed

due to

COVID-19

Agrosavia, CIAT, U.

Nacional, Fedecacao,

extensionists, CfP, cacao

producers

Residue data submitted to Codex to establish MRLs TBD –

Postponed

due to

COVID-19

Cacao exporters and ICA


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PROGRAM FOCUS AREAS The purpose of CfP is to strengthen Colombia’s key cacao agricultural institutions in the public and private sectors with 1) cooperative research, 2) agricultural extension, 3) education, and 4) institutional technical assistance. CfP will expand longer-term opportunities in ways that spread the benefits of investments, economic growth and development to help Colombia’s cacao become more competitive and profitable. Using a whole of government approach, CfP will support Colombia’s peace process by establishing a road map for post-conflict agricultural development, focusing on cacao and facilitating initiatives to improve economic opportunity, stability, and peace in targeted rural areas.

3.1. Cooperative Research USDA-ARS and Agrosavia - CfP is funding USDA’s Agricultural Research Service (ARS) and the Colombian Corporation for Agricultural Research (Agrosavia) to work collaboratively on the following activities:

Activity 1: Assess genetic diversity of CORPOICA’s entire cacao collection. This will be done using single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) fingerprinting, identifying and eliminating off-type and duplicate entries, assessing diversity gaps in the collection, and surveying the genetic diversity of on-farm and wild cacao populations. Update: Sample plates are being processed to be sent to ARS. Recently seven Agrosavia employees were assigned to the task due to COVID related staffing issues. Activity 2: Evaluate cocoa clones with improved traits in the cocoa growing region of Santander. Update: Technical preparation was been postponed due to COVID-19. ARS is currently seeking APHIS inspection for shipment of clones to Agrosavia. Activity 3: Assess the common diseases of cacao and determine the biodiversity of these disease-causing organisms to better understand their underlying biology and improve disease control measures. Update: ARS finished processing all sent isolates, awaiting more from Agrosavia. Upcoming trips have been postponed until further notice due to the COVID-19 lockdown in Colombia. Activity 4: Research and transfer best agronomic practices to improve the management and production of cacao and address the priority issue of cadmium. Update: During this period Agrosavia began evaluating, in a laboratory setting, the effectiveness of four soil amendments for the mitigation of cadmium absorption by cacao. Agrosavia created samples for analysis and began processing them, however with the closure


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of the laboratory during the pandemic and subsequent delay. Researchers have begun first evaluation physiological parameters to determine cadmium uptake.

Also, during this reporting period CfP continued hosting status calls with Agrosavia. Cocoa Cadmium Reduction via Gene Editing – CfP executed an agreement with CIAT focused on cacao gene edition. The objective of this project is to develop, through genome edition technologies, cacao plant varieties produced in cultivation by selective breeding (cacao cultivars) that do not absorb the heavy metal cadmium (Cd). As of January of 2019, cocoa powder and chocolate imported by the European Union (EU) is restricted based on Cd content. In California, a warning label is required on products that have more than 4.1 mg of Cd per daily serving of a single product. Cacao produced in some Latin American countries, including Colombia, suffer from Cd contamination. The development of these cacao cultivars would help to prevent the disruption of cacao exports from Colombia and the corresponding loss of income for cacao smallholders. Cacao cultivars will take 2-3 years to develop and test. Once the cultivars are tested, they will be shared with Agrosavia, Fedecacao and other interested stakeholders. Currently CIAT is working on three methods for gene editing. In this quarter CIAT has accomplished the following:

Method Explanation Pictures

Somatic Embryogenesis

To date 26 lots of flower explants have been processed. Lots 13 to 26, which were treated according to embryogenesis protocol of Fontanel et al. 2012, showed signs of a more efficient embryogenesis when compared to protocol from Penn State University. Therefore, today we are only Fontanel et al. protocol as it has been proven to be the most efficient to produce embryos in the selected varieties.

Somatic embryos of variety IMC67 regenerated from calli transformed


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Biolistics transformation

Transformation using the gene gun was achieved using the reporter gene GUS+. The evidence indicates that the procedure works in our hands, although it requires tune-up to achieve higher efficiency.

Somatic embryo transformed using the gene gun, blue dots indicate transient expression of the gene GUS

Agrobacterium mediated genetic transformation

One additional agro-mediated transformation was performed with plasmid pHSE401-TcNRAMP5 to knock-out the gene TcNRAMP5 for Cadmium uptake in roots. The methodology uses staminoids and petals from varieties IMC67 and FSV41 as starting material. The method is actually under development at CIAT; it´s not available in scientific literature yet

Somatic embryos from transformed

calli from variety IMC67 using plasmid pCAMBIA1305.2 in

Agrobacterium.

No protoplasts isolation/transfection has been done during this quarter due to pandemic-derived lack of continuity in lab activities. CfP Geographical Information System (GIS) mapping project – CfP executed agreements with CIAT, USDA’s NRCS, and Penn State University for creation of an ArcGIS online map with multiple layers including suitability for cacao, cadmium content, water supply, cacao genetic varieties and cacao characteristics to support increased cacao production in three communities located in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta region. USDA/ARS is serving an advisory role at no cost to the mapping project.


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Update this quarter: All soil and genetic samples for the cacao genetic diversity mapping study for Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta region were analyzed and all data compiled into a database maintained at CIAT and shared on an online folder with all project participants. NRCS developed an online GIS database system capable of displaying all of the data as map layers.

This quarter the CfP mapping team launched a beta version of the GIS digital soil map platform found online here. In addition, the mapping team produced drafts of soil and genetic visualization tools. The draft CfP Soil and Plant Mapping visualization servers can be viewed at: Cacao for Peace – CIAT Soil Samples: https://nrcs.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=90b2c26cbf044fa6b63a3e0b8fad83b6 Cacao for Peace – CIAT Leaf Samples: https://nrcs.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=33b55a9586f84e129bf9ae1a6df00690 The results will be shared with Cacao for Peace farmers and investors to help them make informed cultivation decisions. Genetic mapping: A follow-up collection project is being organized between CIAT and Penn State to expand the sample collection to evaluate the genetic diversity and genetic potential in Santa Marta and other regions. The project is expected to be completed by Nov. 2, 2020. Based on SNP genotyping the sampled trees will be designated into specific genotypes, or genetic groups, or as hybrids. Analysis of DNA The CIAT has team performed preliminary analysis of the SNP mapping data

Photo: Digital soil property maps for Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, Colombia


https://nrcs.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=90b2c26cbf044fa6b63a3e0b8fad83b6

https://nrcs.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=90b2c26cbf044fa6b63a3e0b8fad83b6

https://nrcs.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=33b55a9586f84e129bf9ae1a6df00690

https://nrcs.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=33b55a9586f84e129bf9ae1a6df00690


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3.2 Agricultural Extension CfP partners with CIAT and Fedecacao to do the following:

1) Strengthen the capacity of Fedecacao’s extension service 2) Conduct cacao farmer trainings and extension capacity building 3) Develop cacao innovation farms (demonstration, replica and copy farms)

During this quarter there were no in person trainings due to COVID restrictions. Virtual trainings focused on the following activities:

• Technical support for managing water stress due to prolonged drought.

• Integrated pest and disease management.

• Strategic management of pruning in conditions of intense drought.

• Initiation of baseline survey in Cordoba.

• Advisory and follow-up visit to farms with irrigation systems and producers that requested new irrigation systems.

• Advisory and follow-up visit to the producers with cacao nurseries.

• Consultation visit to producers for the realization of the annual work plan in their cultivation.

• Advisory and follow-up visits to producers who are in the process of enlistment of cocoa farms to apply for certification in Good Agricultural Practices (GAP).

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the CfP team quickly developed and implemented a virtual technical assistance strategy. Virtual technical assistance activities include:

• Telephone calls to cacao producers.

• Cacao farmers signed virtual technical assistance agreement forms (see example below). Each form contains a diagnosis of the cacao farm and cultivation recommendations/farmer commitments (see Figure 1.).

• Cacao farmer call log.

• Cacao farmer call screenshots.

• Video conferences for cacao farmers to share the current condition of their cacao trees. Average cacao yields for CfP assisted farms has suffered significantly due to the long drought and cacao tree mortality. However, increased rain in Q3 improved yields from 222 kg/ha to 390.4 kg/ha. The upcoming “mitaca” harvest is expected to yield a much higher average.


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Figure 1. Cacao farmer virtual technical assistance form


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Food Safety CfP food safety staff conducted a desk review of food safety publications to develop a cacao food safety communications strategy. CfP reviewed current U.S. food safety requirements for cacao and cacao products. In addition, CfP conducted a survey to identify active cacao research projects and activities to determine how best to support them with food safety programming and began developing topics for cacao food safety workshops. Lastly, the staff developed a food safety brochure tailored for cacao farmers to educate cacao farmers on the importance of food safety.

Risk Communication Strategy (Phase 1: Technical Document) The CfP food safety consultant completed two sections of the food safety technical awareness document. The consultant submitted to USDA-FAS Bogotá a proposal for the Risk Communication Principles and Good Practices section. Identification of U.S. Legal Requirements Related to Cocoa and Food Safety During this period the CfP food safety consultant met with USDA-FAS Bogotá to review and consolidate legal requirements. The consultant and USDA-FAS Bogotá agreed that the consolidated document should include information on the U.S. sanitary and phytosanitary organizations responsible for establishing sanitary requirements. In addition, the consultant and USDA-FAS Bogotá agreed to include a description of the research methodology used to identify U.S. legal requirements. Food Safety Booklet/Events-Workshops During this period the CfP food safety consultant continued working on the development of the booklet and workshops. Booklet:

• The CfP team (USDA-FAS Washington D.C. and Bogotá, consultant and CIAT) agreed to divide the booklet in two sections, one for producers and one for technical experts.

• The booklet layout will be user friendly for both producers and technical experts.

• Consistency in the story between the two sections will be maintained by preserving the characters and including an introductory page where the main characters are introduced as a complete family.

• The audience for the illustrated section of the booklet is Colombian cocoa producers.

• USAID guidance will be consulted regarding the use of the logo and other aspects as deemed appropriate.

• A closed size of 24 x 22 cm (width x height) will be printed, as this size optimizes the use of paper and is a manageable and attractive format for the audience.

At the request of USDA-FAS Washington D.C., a food safety example relevant to producers was included in the basic concepts section (producers’ section) of the booklet. The example includes a tangential mention of the ENC-CI. CIAT provided illustrations and dialogues to be used in the booklet, which were reviewed by USDA-FAS Washington D.C. and Bogotá. The observations and suggested adjustments to the illustration sample of the characters in the booklet were sent to CIAT.


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Workshops: USDA-FAS Bogotá requested that the CfP food safety consultant conduct a diagnostic study to ensure the content of the food safety workshop is relevant to CfP cocoa producers, and to measure producers’ current understanding of food safety. The CfP food safety consultant generated a written questionnaire-type survey to be completed by producers during the consultant’s visits to CfP producers. However, the implementation of the survey and the workshops have been postponed due to COVID-19. Technical Review The ENC-CI requested technical support for the review of the "Proposal Document and Validation of the Governance of Information Management and Feedback by the Actors of the Cocoa Chain." This review was carried out jointly between USDA-FAS Bogotá and the CfP food safety consultant via teleconference held on May 13, 2020. The technical review of the document was communicated by CfP (USDA-FAS Bogotá) to SwissContact via a virtual meeting and an email. Technical Support USDA-FAS Bogotá and the CfP food safety consultant participated in the Second Cacao / COVID-19 Forum on Thursday, April 30 as technical support for the ENC-CI on behalf of CfP. The videoconference was organized by SwissContact.

3.3 Education To improve access to post-graduate degrees and training in cacao research in Colombia, CfP partnered with Fulbright-Colombia and Colfuturo (a Colombian non-profit organization that promotes post-graduate degrees) to offer a total of seven Colombian cacao research scholarships. These scholarships are enabling Colombian researchers/students to attend U.S. universities for post graduate degrees in academic subjects that support CfP objectives. The students’ research will seek solutions to Colombian cacao sector challenges. Scholars will work with advisors to publish their studies. The scholars are highly incentivized to return to Colombia after their studies to work in the cacao sector. They have either committed to doing so in writing or have reimbursement of their student loans tied to their return. Fulbright-Colombia Three of the four CfP Fulbright-Colombia scholars graduated from Penn State University (PSU) with master’s degrees in August of 2019. The fourth will graduate in the summer of 2020. Three of the students have been accepted into PhD programs. All students are preparing their publications to be submitted by end of the Spring semester 2020. See table for scholar details below:

Scholar University Program Status

Jhony Armando Benavides Bolaños


MS Candidate in Soil Sciences, MS International Agricultural Development

Graduated in August of 2019. Started PhD coursework


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Alejandro Gil Aguirre


MS Candidate in Agricultural Extension and Education

Graduated in August of 2019. Started PhD coursework.

Johann Shocker Restrepo Rubio


MS Candidate in Horticulture

Graduated in August of 2019.

Lina Marcela Tami Barrera


MS Candidate in Rural Sociology and International Agricultural Development, MS International Agricultural Development

Expected graduation in summer of 2020. Will continue on to PhD studies upon graduation.

The Fulbright Scholars’ thesis topics are as follows:

1. Evolution of effector and other pathogenicity related genes in frosty pod rot fungus Moniliophthora roreri causing frosty root rot disease in Theobroma cacao

2. Evaluation of Cd remediation materials, plant indicators and mapping protocol for optimized cacao (Theobroma cacao L.) production

3. Socioeconomic and technological factors that influence technology innovation of cacao farms in three regions of Colombia: contributions to rural development programs for post-conflict

4. Evaluation of cacao projects in Colombia to explain their success drivers: a study case of Productive Partnership (PAAP)

CfP-Colfuturo-Purdue University Scholars All three CfP-Colfuturo students are enrolled at Purdue University and working towards their advanced degrees. They will all graduate by December of 2020.


Hector Lozano Purdue University

MS/PhD Candidate in Agricultural and Biological Engineering

Will defend dissertation by July 2020.

Andres Zabala Purdue University

MS/PhD Candidate in Agricultural Sciences Education and Communication

Will defend dissertation by July 2020.

Maria Paula Zea Purdue University

MS/PhD Candidate in Horticulture and Landscape Architecture

Will graduate by August 2020.

The Colfuturo-Purdue scholars’ thesis topics are as follows:

1. Hector Lozano is working on the identification of key cocoa powder material attributes in order to improve Colombian cocoa powder performance and stability.

2. Andres Zabala is working on extension education as an approach to retain youth in rural cocoa areas in Colombia


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3. Maria Paula Zea is researching methods for reducing the potential for cadmium uptake by cacao in Colombia.

Updates: Hector Lozano:

• Hector has been working on the written part of his thesis and finalizing coursework in spring 2020. Because of COVID-19 issues, he has been working remotely from home. Hector is planning to defense his master thesis on July, 23rd.

Andres Zabala: • Andrés completed all the courses of

his plan of study, 48 academic credits. Moreover, he took and passed the preliminary exam required to become a PhD candidate.

• Although Andrés’ original research idea was to go to Colombia to study Colombian rural youth career decision-making process, he was forced to modify the way he will collect data (and participants to conduct this activity) due to COVID-19. During the summer, he will define constraints and some possible alternatives to develop his research. These alternatives must be conducted online (based on transportation restrictions, and IRB requirements).

Maria Zea:


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Maria finished the final classes for her master’s degree in May. She ran samples using the ICP-MS to quantify basil and kale leaf nutrients despite obstacles due to the COVID-19 pandemic. She was also able to take hyperspectral images of cacao plants, where she was able to visualize differences between plants amended with 10ppm Cd and those that received 0 ppm Cd. She finished writing her thesis and sent it to her committee members on July 1st and will be defending her thesis on July 15th.

3.4 Institutional Technical Assistance and other Cacao Disease Control – No advances in new field applications have been made due to Covid-19 and the inability for technicians to travel to lab. In May 2020, equipment and supplies for the Agrosavia Study Team were acquired through an IICA agreement. These purchases included: Nitrogen evaporator, two field application equipment, datalogger, two scales, psychrometer and an anemometer estimated at around $16,390.00 USD. MONITORING AND EVALUATION This quarter the mapping tools created and published online helped CfP achieve its target (43/43) for CFP-CR03: Number of technologies or management practices under research, under field testing, or made available for transfer as a result of USG assistance (EG.3.2-7). The productivity indicator (CfP-CC16) increased significantly from 222 kg/h last quarter to 390 kg/h due to increased rain. The upcoming “mitaca” harvest is expected to yield a much higher average.


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Code (#) Indicator Name Unit LOP Target Actuals FY20 Q3 % FY20

Achieved

CFP-RN01

Number of participants of workshops and meetings.

Number 373 554 0 149%

CFP-RN02

Average monthly number of unique (IP) visits to the research network web platform.

Number 50 19 19 38%

CFP-CR03

Number of technologies or management practices under research, under field testing, or made available for transfer as a result of USG assistance (EG.3.2-7).

Number 43 43 3 100%

CFP-CR04

Number of innovations supported through USG assistance (STIR-10). Cacao varieties and genotypes identified, studied or characterized

Number 665 1635 0 246%

CFP-CR05

Number of farmers and others who have applied improved technologies or management practices with USG assistance (EG.3.2-17).

Number 150 169 5 113%


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Achieved

CFP-CR06

Number of peer-reviewed scientific publications resulting from USG support to research and implementation programs (STIR-12).

Number 10 1 0 10%

CFP-CR07

Number of individuals who have received USG-supported degree-granting agricultural sector productivity or food security training (EG.3.2-2).

Number 8 8 0 100%

CFP-EE08

Number of cacao innovation farms implemented.

Number 105 110 5 105%

CFP-EE09

Number of hectares under improved technologies or management practices with USG assistance (EG.3.2-18)

Number 115 146.4 10 127%

CFP-EE10

Number of individuals who have received USG-supported short-term agricultural sector productivity or food security training (EG.3.2-1)

Number 788 1551 256 197%

CFP-CC12

Value of Third Party Mobilized Funds (Ym)

Amount in USD

$ 556,333,279.00 $ 3,808,166,920.00 $ - 685%


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Achieved

CFP-CC13

Value of USAID investments linked to Mobilized Funds (Xm)

Amount in USD

$ 621,741,000.00 $ 1,391,207,816.34 $ - 224%

CFP-CC14

Value of Leveraged Funds (YI)

Amount in USD

$1,835,510,962.00 $ 2,457,309,622.00 $ - 134%

CFP-CC15

Value of USAID Investments Linked to Leveraged funds (Xl)

Amount in USD

$2,667,262,936.00 $ 2,753,356,746.74 $ - 103%

CFP-CC16

Agricultural productivity –Kg/Ha- of cacao crops supported by the USG assistance. (Disaggregates: new crop; renewed crops).

Number 1000 390.40 390 39%


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ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING

The CfP team revised the activities that were entered into USAID/Colombia’s MONITOR system and is in process for approval by the USAID/Colombia’s Environmental Officer. CfP is discussing the small-scale irrigation, shade coverings, and bathroom upgrades with environment and acquisitions. NEW AGREEMENTS WITH IMPLEMENTING PARTNERS AND OTHERS

• None

FINANCIAL SUMMARY

Agreement Funds Available

Total Agreement Amount: $ 4,933,607

Total Funds Transferred to USDA: $ 4,933,607

Balance: $ 0

Current Funds Available for Expenditure

Total Funds Transferred to USDA: $ 4,933,607

Total Funds Obligated by USDA: $ 4,430,101

Balance $ 503,506

STATUS OF PERSONNEL The following USDA/FAS Washington D.C. program management personnel charged salary to the program. Level of effort (LoE) percentages listed:

• GS-13 Andrés, Romero; FAS Senior Program Manager (50% LoE)

• GS-9 Jamie Van Clief; FAS Program Specialist (50% LoE)

Cacao for Peace

Documents

Transcript of Cacao for Peace