Crops we work with
Theobroma cacao
Regenerating cocoa landscapes with Dynamic Agroforestry — healthier soils, higher yields, and income from the very first year.
Cocoa is one of ECOTOP’s core crops. For more than two decades we have worked with cocoa farmers across the tropics to move away from full-sun monocultures toward diverse, multi-layered agroforestry systems.
By combining cocoa with shade trees, fruit species and nitrogen-fixing plants, our Dynamic Agroforestry approach rebuilds soil fertility, suppresses pests and disease, and improves yields — without reliance on external inputs. Fast-growing pioneer species generate income from the very first year, while the cocoa matures.
A tailored programme with you — from first assessment to landscape transformation — building the local capacity to run and scale it.
Dynamic Agroforestry doesn’t ask farmers to wait. Fast-growing pioneer and companion species — bananas, cassava and short-cycle crops — deliver harvests and revenue while the cocoa establishes.
As the system matures, the same diversity that pays early keeps paying: steadier yields, lower input costs, and cocoa that is more resilient to a changing climate.
Continuous organic matter and deep-rooting trees restore depleted cocoa soils and improve water retention.
Diversified canopies improve cocoa yields while easing pest, disease and climate stress.
Fast-growing pioneer and companion species deliver harvests and revenue from the first year, while cocoa matures.
High tree density sequesters significant CO2 and rebuilds habitat, supporting insetting and certification.
Article · 6 min
A 14-year Bolivia trial shows DAF cocoa can store more than double the biomass carbon of monocultures.
Article · 8 min
How Dynamic Agroforestry tackles deforestation, soil degradation, pests and climate risk in cocoa.
Article · 6 min
Why diverse, multi-crop systems out-yield single-crop cocoa — with a higher return on labour.
Find out how ECOTOP can strengthen your cocoa production with Dynamic Agroforestry.
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