Cacao Excellence and the Importance of Diversity

Good trees
Strong genetics = healthy, flavour-rich cacao.

Healthy environment
Grown in the right climate with care.

Right harvest time
Pods picked when perfectly ripe.

Tree protection
Good practices to prevent pests and disease.

Quality fermentation & drying
Tailored to the type of beans.

Processing know-how
Skills in bean handling and chocolate making.

Cacao of Excellence celebrates this craft and brings quality to light.

Resilience
Diverse cacao adapts better to climate and disease.

Flavour
Each variety brings unique taste and aroma.

Future-proofing
Genetic richness helps breeders and farmers prepare for what’s next.

Deforestation
Especially in the Amazon, cacao’s birthplace.

Extreme weather
Disasters destroy wild and cultivated cacao.

Loss of traditional varieties
Replaced by commercial clones.

Short-term thinking
Focus on yield over quality and diversity.

Cacao of Excellence protects cacao diversity — because without it, there’s no future for flavour.

Please visit cacaonet.org to read about the Global Network for Cacao Genetic Resources (CacaoNet), organized by Bioversity International.