Recuperación Cacao Chuncho – Saving a living heritage

Deep in the Urubamba Valley near Cusco in Peru grows one of the oldest and genetically most valuable cocoa varieties in the world: Chuncho Cacao.

For generations, this cocoa has been cultivated by smallholder families, often far from international markets, under challenging social, economic, and climatic conditions.

The "Recuperación Cacao Chuncho" project is dedicated to preserving this very precious heritage, strengthening it, and transitioning it into a sustainable future.

The goal is to protect the original Chuncho Cacao, maintain its genetic purity, and simultaneously improve the livelihoods of the local people in a sustainable way.

A project that shows how environmental protection, economic stability, and social responsibility can work together.

Sustainable change: Noel is on-site for the project

The "Recuperación Cacao Chuncho" project is implemented by our partner Original Beans in close cooperation with the local partners APPCACAO, the Alto Urubamba Cooperative, and CAMSA.

The Kakao Mischa Impact Fund finances Field Technician Noel Ochoa (pictured below), who monitors and coordinates the measures directly on the ground and implements them together with the producers.

Sharing knowledge, strengthening quality, preserving nature

At the heart of the project and Noel's work is the exchange of knowledge with the producers. Through regular training and individual technical support, the farmers learn how to keep their cocoa plants healthy while protecting natural resources.

The measures include, among others:

• Training on organic farming methods
• Production of compost and bio-inputs
• Identification and sustainable treatment of pests and diseases
• Application of agroforestry systems that combine cocoa with shade trees and other plants
• Soil improvement through natural means instead of synthetic fertilizers

These methods not only increase cocoa quality but also make the cultivation areas more resilient to climate change.

Personal support in the field

A core component of the project is the individual technical support provided by Noel. In numerous communities, including Kiteni, Cochayoc, Yomentoni, and Materiato, producers have received targeted assistance in the care and preservation of old Chuncho cocoa trees.

Special attention is paid to maintaining decades-old trees whose genetic characteristics are unique. Through targeted pruning and soil health management, their productivity is improved sustainably without endangering their natural structure .

30,000 seedlings for the future

A strong sign of the project's long-term impact is the establishment of a community nursery with space for 30,000 Chuncho cocoa seedlings. Here, not only is new plant material grown, but knowledge about genetic selection, care, and cultivation is also passed on.

This creates a living connection between tradition and the future, sustained by the community itself.

Social and economic impact

In addition to ecological aspects, the project also strengthens the social and economic situation of the families:

• Increase and stabilization of income
• Stronger organization within the communities
• Direct access to specialty cocoa markets
• Greater appreciation for the work of the producers

The result is an inclusive economic model based not on exploitation, but on partnership, transparency, and respect.

Chuncho Cacao as a symbol of responsibility

"Recuperación Cacao Chuncho" impressively demonstrates that cocoa can be more than just a raw material. It is a cultural asset, an ecological treasure, and the livelihood of many families. By protecting it, we protect not just a plant, but entire ecosystems and communities.

Thank you for joining us in helping to preserve Chuncho Cacao and the people behind it. 🌱✨

The Kakao Mischa Impact Fund

With the Kakao Mischa Impact Fund, we support projects like this in a very concrete way. A portion of every order goes directly into ecological, social, and regenerative initiatives along our value chain. This allows us to enable long-term change where it truly begins: on the ground.

👉 Find out more about our Impact Fund and the projects we support here:

https://kakaomischa.de/blogs/kakao-mischa-impact-fund