Bolivia hosts first National Wild Cacao Summit to champion Amazon forest conservation

Bolivia launched its inaugural National Wild Cacao Summit from 13 to 15 August in Trinidad and San Ignacio de Moxos, Beni. The event gathered cacao producers, indigenous communities, academia, international partners and government representatives to promote Bolivian wild cacao as a premium global product and to position the country as a model for sustainable Amazon forest use. Participants established a permanent National Technical Table for cacao to coordinate research, financing, export and tourism initiatives. Vice‑Minister of Gastronomy Sumaya Prado emphasized that the cacao’s quality must translate into broader opportunities for growers and processors, while executive director Adolfo Velasco highlighted the biocultural value of the crop.

In Guayaquil, Ecuador, the Museo Nacional del Cacao organized a family‑focused workshop called “La mazorca mágica.” The program combined storytelling, illustrations and a sensory tasting of raw cacao to teach children and adults about the city’s historic link to the “golden bean.” Organized by the municipal tourism department, the workshop featured the tale “Mía conoce a Theobroma Cacao” and included comments from local parents and young artists about its educational impact. The initiative reinforces the museum’s cultural mission and showcases cacao as a living heritage of Guayaquil.