# Cacao history and production developments > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/cacao-history-and-production-developments > Updated: 2026-09-13T18:05:13.000Z. Sources: 15. Developments: 2. Discussions regarding cacao production and history have highlighted the industry’s reliance on West African suppliers like Ivory Coast and Ghana, as well as the historical use of cacao by Mayan and Aztec civilizations. Recent developments include archaeological findings in Ecuador at the Santa Ana-La Florida site. Research published in Nature Ecology & Evolution suggests that the Upper Amazon may be the original center of cacao domestication, based on evidence of starch grains and theobromine residues dating back approximately 5,300 years. This historical significance is further supported by evidence in Zamora Chinchipe. In West Africa, Côte d’Ivoire’s 10th National Cocoa and Chocolate Days focused on modernizing the industry and engaging younger generations to maintain global leadership. In Latin America, the Dominican Republic’s cocoa industry has generated over $2.6 billion in foreign exchange since 2019, though 2026 saw exports decline to $411.1 million from $724.7 million in 2025, a drop attributed in part to severe droughts. Other regional activities include Mexico’s Fiesta del Cacao Mexicano in Cholula, which integrated gastronomy with traditional arts, and efforts by small-scale producers in Santander, Colombia, to maintain cacao as an economic pillar despite disease and infrastructure challenges. In the consumer sector, MercaSID and General Mills introduced a new Häagen-Dazs Belgian Chocolate formulation with 72% cacao to address demand for intense flavors. ## Timeline ### 2026-09-13: Global cocoa industry sees diverse economic and cultural developments The global cocoa industry faces varied trends, from Côte d’Ivoire's modernization efforts and Ecuador's ancient heritage to export declines in the Dominican Republic and new product launches in the premium ice- 13 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/cacao-heritage-highlighted-by-archaeological-finds-in-ecuador-and-festival-in-dominican-republic ### 2026-09-12: Cacao production and the history of chocolate Ahead of International Chocolate Day, the history and production of cacao are explored, from its origins as a bitter drink in Mayan and Aztec cultures to modern supply challenges in West Africa. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/cacao-production-and-the-history-of-chocolate --- Cite as: Cacao history and production developments. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/cacao-history-and-production-developments