Cacao-agroforestry BFREE

Cacao-Agroforestry

The discovery of wild Criollo cacao within BFREE’s tropical rainforest reserve has created a unique opportunity for local conservation action and the potential for a global impact.

One of the rarest cacaos ever documented, 100% genetically pure Criollo, grows wild at BFREE. This shade-loving variety thrives under the canopy of the rainforest and was designated "Heirloom Fine Flavor" by the Heirloom Cacao Preservation Fund (HCP) in 2016.

In 2019, BFREE established a cacao agroforestry program using this wild Criollo cacao to preserve this unique treasure and investigate the potential of providing environmental, social, and economic benefits for local farmers. Over 25,000 trees have been planted since the project's inception - including 12,500 grafted Criollo cacao trees and 14,000 shade trees representing 25 local species.

Further Details

Over thirty years ago, a remnant population of ancient wild cacao trees was discovered by Jacob Marlin growing on the BFREE 1,153 acre private nature reserve located at the foothills of the Maya Mountains - an area described as one of the least disturbed and largest continuous expanses of tropical rainforest north of the Amazon.

In 2015, beans from the wild trees were submitted to Heirloom Cacao Preservation Fund (HCP) and received Heirloom Fine Flavor designation in 2016. In addition to its exceptional criollo favor, the results determined that this rare cacao is genetically 100% pure Criollo parentage, thought lost to hybridization and deforestation. This true relic was grown and revered by ancient civilizations from South America thousands of years ago and brought to what is today, Belize, and propagated by early indigenous cultures of the region including the Maya civilization. The trees are one of the few pure wild cacaos known to exist on the planet, and this same material was used to sequence the cacao genome in 2011.

As a result of this discovery, in 2018, BFREE began a project to preserve and propagate this rare and wild ancient heirloom fine flavor cacao while investigating its economic, social, and environmental benefits. Propagated from these wild trees, BFREE has planted over 25 acres of criollo cacao growing in an agroforestry system, where wildlife like Jaguars, Tapirs, Howler monkeys, Harpy eagles, and Scarlet macaws are frequently observed. BFREE has begun harvesting beans from the newly established farm and small volumes of chocolate have reached the market.

The Big
Picture

small bird perched in branch of cacao tree

Unsustainable cacao production in tropical countries including Belize continues to expand at an alarming rate. Along with this increase in production is the challenge of conserving the very same ecosystems which are being replaced with monoculture crops.

Further Details

Cacao agroforestry has been identified as part of a solution to maintain and restore tropical forests and provide economic benefits to local communities. However, little is known about the trade-offs between shade-grown crops, such as cacao, and the ecological communities and ecosystem services provided by tropical forests. BFREE is currently actively pursuing this line of inquiry through our agroforestry program.

The Focus
on Cacao

This variety of cacao thrives in the shaded rainforest making this discovery especially exciting. Growing Criollo cacao provides the opportunity to incentivize tropical forest conservation and restoration because it is a crop with a high global demand.

Further Details

Criollo cacao makes up less than .02% of the 500 million metric tons of cacao produced worldwide annually. The current global chocolate and cacao market is 130 billion dollars annually. Cacao is the third largest traded luxury agricultural commodity in the world. BFREE is uniquely positioned to support the global demand for chocolate while simultaneously incentivizing the protection of valuable forested landscapes.

The Need for
Conservation

The discovery of Criollo cacao on the BFREE Privately Protected Area is evidence of the biodiversity found with in these forests and highlights the important of conserving these diverse ecosytems. Many other mysteries still remain to be discovered.

Further Details

Tropical forest loss continues at an alarming rate. These forests provide a multitude of benefits including sequestering carbon, maintaining the hydrological cycle, providing habitat for wildlife and providing resources needed for the human population. Preserving tropical forests helps mitigate climate change. Given the increasing expansion of cacao in tropical agro-ecosystems around the world, the BFREE cacao-based agroforestry research program has global implications.

Number of shade trees planted during restoration

The total number of grafted Criollo trees that have be planted

Approximate number of acres dedicated to cacao agroforestry on the BFREE Privately Protected Area

Number of tree species planted, with 22 native species used

The Unique Cacao at BFREE

When were the Criollo cacao trees discovered at BFREE?

In 1993, when the BFREE property was first secured, wild cacao trees were found scattered throughout 1,153 acre forest. However, their uniqueness wasn't recognized immediately. Watch a short video about the discovery of wild Criollo trees. The property is part of Maya Mountain Massif, which is described as one of the least disturbed and largest continuous expanses of tropical rainforest north of the Amazon.

What is the cultural significance of this discovery?

Once believed lost to hybridization, 100% pure Criollo cacao is a true relic. In 2015, based on the advice of cacao experts, beans from the wild trees were submitted for genetic testing. The results determined that this could be the original chocolate tree, 100% pure Criollo parentage, grown and revered by early indigenous peoples thousands of years ago.

What designation does the BFREE Criollo cacao hold?

In 2016, the beans were given the designation “heirloom fine flavor” by HCP. At that time it was only the 11th chocolate in the world to receive such an honor. The HCP designation is given based on flavor. Further genetic studies by the USDA and the Cacao Research Centre at the University of the West Indies discovered that the wild trees were all 100% Criollo parentage. Watch the HCP Video about BFREE.

Does BFREE have chocolate made from its Cacao for sale?

Although BFREE does not sell chocolate, the beans produced from our agroforestry program are used to make some of the finest chocolate in the world. Chocolate products can be purchased online through Caputo's Market & Deli and coming soon through the newly established company based in Belize called CrioCo.