Environmental sustainability initiatives in the Colombian cocoa sector

Increasing demands in the global marketplace for agricultural products with environmental sustainability credentials has created growing expectations for producers and exporters to demonstrate to trading partners actions to improve sustainability. This report examines how the cocoa sector in Colombia is responding to these demands through a range of public, public-private, and private environmental sustainability initiatives. A total of 14 key initiatives were identified, with most prioritising information-based instruments such as education, technical assistance, and data and measurement systems. Even though cocoa production in Colombia is not considered a driver of deforestation, most initiatives emphasise deforestation prevention because it occurs in already deforested areas and because international sustainability expectations continue to link cocoa to deforestation. Traceability, certification, and capacity building feature prominently across initiatives, though methods and approaches vary widely for each. The initiatives are defined by a high level of stakeholder collaboration across local, national and international levels. Key challenges include increasing productivity to meet growing demand while maintaining sustainability, achieving formal certification despite complex and resource-intensive processes, and strengthening access to robust, interoperable traceability systems amid financial and technical constraints.