About us Cacao Mexico is a nonprofit organization established in 2010, based in Mexico City. Its main objectives are to promote and increase the production of high quality Mexican cocoa crops through sustainable agricultural practices and to contribute to rainforest recovery in the country’s tropical regions. In addition to increase the production of quality cocoa crops at the same time we encourage reforestation and support programs which aim to benefit cocoa farmers and their families. These social programs are based on a fair valorization of the farmers work, providing technical and financial assistance to help them maximize the productivity and yield of their lands, therefore achieving a higher life standard for themselves and their families.
Mission To promote the production of high quality Mexican cocoa through sustainable crop techniques and to support the improvement of farmers’ life standards and those of their families.
Vision To make Mexico a worldwide recognized country for its quality and sustainable cocoa plantations, becoming an attractive alternative for global sourcing of this value added crop which will help farmers improve their life standards.
Values Commitment
Integrity
Social Responsibility
Commitment to our global ecological needs and social duties.
The needs are so extense that the resources shall be all committed to our goals.
To be responsible with the less fortunate of our fellow producers.
Facts In the last decade Mexican cocoa production has fallen nearly 50%
Currently, there are no active sustainable production programs.
Mexican cocoa production is not even enough for local consumption.
Farmers’ life standards are low compared to the average Mexican worker.
In the last two hundred years Mexico has lost more than 90% of its tropical rainforest and 74 species of flora and fauna.
What we do • Increase and promote the production of various types of high quality certified cocoa beans . • Encourage reforestation. • Invest in the development of potential fields throughout the Mexican states. • Support farmer aid programs in order to raise their living standards. • Carry out responsible agricultural practices, protecting the environment and fostering a responsible use of water • Train farmers in the best sustainable agricultural practices and contribute to their education • Attend the ecological needs in cocoa producing regions within the country.
How do we make it possible? Cacao Mexico works mainly with private resources from several donors, ranging from the chocolate industry to major Foundations, private supporters, enterprises, R&D institutes, NGOs and international funds across the world.
Productive potential Mexico’s tropical region counts with the ideal characteristics for the expected crop growth. Nevertheless, ecological disasters, technological lag, lack of training, crop maintenance and missing financial support have led production to a 47% decline, but the trend can be reversed through focused and combined efforts.
High Potential 1,522,770 ha
Today, the main producing states in Mexico are: Tabasco, Chiapas, Oaxaca and Guerrero, which have a great potential to increase their productivity. Furthermore, Mexico has vast unexploited regions with significant potential for high quality crop production. States such as Veracruz, MichoacĂĄn, Colima, Campeche, Nayarit and Quintana Roo have the ideal characteristics for cocoa production; they only need support in seizing their potential.
Medium Potential 3,924,060 ha
Tools to generate change
Renovation, rehabilitation, maintenance and extension of cocoa plantations
Research to obtain a material with better yields, tolerant to diseases and of high quality
Creating awareness through educational programs for farmers and training in sustainable agricultural practices
Technology transfer
Sustainability encouragement
Financial aid for farmers.
Assistance obtaining financial aid in low income producer communities
Your support
Our first initiative Hershey´s-Ecom-Cacao Mexico Foundation project: • Working with local producers of the Soconusco area • Training 700 producers • Renewing and certifying 1000 hectares • Giving maintenance to 1000 hectares providing farmers with the right tools, materials and training • We have monilia tolerant plants • Training materials for the producers from UTZ Kapeh Foundation • Clonal garden, nursery garden and demonstration plots in this region • Renewing 1,000 hectares will increase the yield of 300 kgs to 1,000 kgs per hectare significantly increasing the income of the producers and their families.
Strategic partners
Long term goals
Reforest 120,000 hectares in the country
Incorporate sustainable agricultural practices
Increase the quality of life for farmers and their families
Contribute to make Sustainable Communities
Increase significantly the production of quality cocoa in the country and certify it.
Recuperate fine and aromatic creole mexican cocoa
Position Mexico as a major cocoa producing country in Latin America.
Our team Cacao Mexico’s Honorary Director is also President of the National Chocolate Association (ASCHOCO) and President of the National Committee of Cacao Supply Chain (ComitÊ Nacional Sistema Producto Cacao) and has a Bachelors Degree in Business Administration from one of the most prestigious Universities in Latin America, ITAM Autonomus Technological Institute of Mexico and a Major in Finance. Finance Courses with the London School of Economics and junior programs at Universita Commerciale Luigi Bocconi in Milan, Italy. Our Managing Director is majored in International Relations, from the International University in Geneva and has collaborated in projects with Dr. Rajendra Pachauri (Chairman of the IPCC) and Sam Pitroda, Adviser to the Prime Minister of India, in Knowledge Economy projects.
Cacao Mexico
~
Daniela Velasco Managing Director dvr@cacaomexico.org (+52) (55) 29-78-30-88 www.cacaomexico.org