CIRAD team in the Huayabamba Valley
In early April, 6 colleagues from CIRAD (French Agricultural Research Centre for International Development) visited the Huayabamba Valley for the first time as part of our Cacao Field Lab project. For some, it was their first experience in the Peruvian Amazon, while others had previously conducted research in the region. The researchers engaged with local farmers and explored their fields, gaining valuable insights from these interactions. This initial contact helped us better plan future activities.
During the field visits, we observed the diverse array of ant species in the cocoa fields. While it is well-known that ants play a significant role in cocoa production, the specific functions and interactions of different species remain largely unknown. Understanding these dynamics will be a key objective of our upcoming investigations.
Participative Workshop in Santa Rosa
A fundamental aspect of the Cacao Field Lab project is its participatory approach to research. This made it essential to organize a workshop with farmers from CoopACCC and other cooperatives in the Huayabamba Valley to present and validate the research objectives we have developed with our colleagues from CIRAD.
The workshop, held in Santa Rosa, included 37 farmers from nine different villages in the Huayabamba Valley. Besides presenting the project’s overall objective, we gathered valuable information from the participants, including their extensive knowledge of local forest tree species and their various functions, with 64 different species mentioned. Another significant discovery was the pre-identification of 40 native cacao trees in the region's natural forests, which are likely indigenous to the area. Our next step will be to conduct bioprospecting missions to locate these trees and perform genetic analyses to determine their origin. We will keep you updated on our progress.
Kick off of our Cacao Field Lab with local stakeholders
In addition to connecting with farmers, we are engaging with key regional stakeholders involved in sustainable cacao production. The kick-off meeting we organized in Juanjui was attended by representatives from ten organizations including cooperatives, the Regional Direction of Agriculture, regional authorities and technical roundtables, development & research entities, NGOs, academia. The objective was to present the various investigation areas of our project and, importantly, to identify how these entities can be integrated into the project framework.
The discussions were lively and constructive, reaffirming the need to map the different existing solutions and initiatives. The sector counts on various endeavors with highly motivated peers. And in this ecosystem, the Cacao Field Lab plays a crucial role in aligning these efforts to achieve the common goal of empowering smallholder cacao farmers.
Mulch Trials: Optimizing farm residue recycling
In collaboration with the Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL), we conducted mulch trials in three cacao plots, yielding insightful results this quarter. Alongside tracking flower bud formation, fruiting, and fruit maturation, we conducted 3 evaluations based on 3 different treatments. The following metrics are rainfall-sensitive, so future analysis will integrate data from our climate monitoring sensors for comprehensive insights.
- Infiltration Tests: Assessing water absorption across treatments. In two of the three plots, Treatment 1 (accumulation of residues under the canopy) and Treatment 2 (residue accumulation between cacao tree rows) showed superior infiltration compared to Treatment 3 (unintervened residue accumulation).
- Soil Biological Activity: Treatment 2 exhibited over 50% decomposition of the cotton fabrics within 30 days with mulch, indicating heightened microbial activity.
- Soil Compaction: No significant differences were noted among treatments.
Legume Trials: Nitrogen fixation and biomass contribution
This quarter, we conducted trials with four legume varieties - Canavalia ensiformis, Cajanus cajan, Crotalaria juncea, and Centrosema spp. - in two areas: a "full sun" plot under installation and a shade grown cacao field. Results show that after two months, legumes thrived best in the "full sun" plot. In the shade grown cacao field, only Cajanus cajan and Canavalia ensiformis could properly grow and develop, indicating that the two other varieties need more sunlight.
It's worth noting that, under full sun conditions, Canavalia ensiformis developped very quickly, while Crotalaria juncea 's growth was slower. These two legume varieties have undergone fresh and dry weight tests to be sent to laboratories for further nutritional analysis. We will continue our trials on different legume species in the coming months with the objective to make informed recommendation to cacao farmers.
The Cacao Field Lab at the 11th Round Table Cocoa in Hamburg, Germany
Hamburg is a historically significant port through which cocoa from around the world enters Europe. Last June, a two-day symposium took place here and hosted 150 scientists and company representatives to discuss topics such as planting systems, primary post-harvest processing and cocoa bean quality. The theme of the 2024 symposium "Empowering Knowledge Transfer", was closely aligned with our Cacao Field Lab project. And we were kindly invited to present to the round table our project and share our experiences from the field in the implementation of agroforestry demonstration plots.
During the evening lecture titled "The Fruits of Cocoa Agroforestry - Cacao Field Lab: Participatory Field Research in the Peruvian Amazon", we showcased how a participatory process can lead to success stories that other farmers can follow. We extend our heartfelt thanks to the Cocoa Round Table and its organizer, Dr. Daniel Kadow, for providing this opportunity.
Collaboration with local allies
While engaging with various stakeholders in the cocoa sector in San Martin, it has become clear that despite a shared understanding and common goals, there is still a significant lack of coordination and collaboration. Different actors are pursuing similar objectives, implementing technical solutions independently, and developing numerous roadmaps and plans, highlighting the immense potential in the region.
In discussions with the San Martin Cocoa Round Table and its president, Gerardo Medina, we identified a concrete first step for collaboration. Together with relevant stakeholders, we will organize thematic expert groups to present and discuss the existing activities. The aim is to systematize and harmonize the current knowledge and identify opportunities for dissemination. The first round of these discussions will take place in Juanjui on July 22, 23, and 24. The results will be shared in upcoming reports.
Forest Conservation: Conclusion of the Pilot Project and Next Steps
After a year and a half of implementation, we are now concluding the pilot phase of our forest conservation project. We have achieved significant objectives, such as developing and implementing a surveillance and control plan for each organization, improving and building control posts, involving local schools in environmental education sessions, and conducting a series of workshops aimed at strengthening organizational capacities for self-management.
Despite these positive outcomes, we recognize the critical need to further enhance organizational capacities in planning, reporting, management, and good governance. These elements are essential for the autonomy of the associations in charge and the sustainability of forest conservation. As we conclude this pilot phase, we will now engage in a participatory design process in the second semester of 2024 and aim to present a new proposal by the end of the year.
Cacao Conservation and Clonal Garden
This quarter, our focus in the Conservation and Clonal Garden has been on diligently following our Yearly Operational Plan. We've conducted essential maintenance tasks like weeding, solid and liquid fertilization using bio-productsprovided by the Choba Choba Cooperative, and improved drainage in flood-prone areas. We've also harvested the plantains previously installed to provide temporary shade to the young cacao plant.
Additionnally, we've continued with our sexual compatibility study and collected beans from the mother trees for upcoming micro-fermentation tests and organoleptic analyses. Lastly, as the cacao plants in the conservation garden are now 2 years old, phenological monitoring has begun, revealing diverse growth patterns in plant architecture and flowering times, set to develop further in the coming months.
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