A long-term field trial conducted in Bolivia by Schneider et al. compared cocoa monocultures and agroforestry systems under both conventional and organic management. The study found that while conventional monocultures produced the highest cocoa yields initially, agroforestry systems significantly outperformed monocultures in total system yields when considering all marketable products, such as bananas and other...Read More

This study explores the differences between growing cocoa in monocultures and dynamic agroforestry systems (DAF), focusing on smallholder farmers in Bolivia and Côte d’Ivoire. Monoculture cocoa farming often leads to problems like soil degradation, loss of biodiversity, and increased vulnerability to pests, diseases, and climate change. In contrast, DAF mimics natural forests by integrating a...Read More

A recent study by Niether et al. presents a comprehensive meta-analysis comparing cocoa agroforestry systems with monocultures. Analyzing 52 articles, the research found that while cocoa yields in agroforestry systems are about 25% lower than in monocultures, the total system yields—including other crops like fruits and timber—are approximately ten times higher. This diversification contributes significantly...Read More