Believe it or not, but chocolate is a rainforest conservation tool.
Chocolate is produced from the nut-like fruit of a short tropical tree
called cacao, which is believed to be native to Ecuador. The finest variety
of cacao, called Fino de Aroma (fine aroma) is almost exclusively produced
in coastal Ecuador, as this region has the delicate mix of climate and soil
conditions in which this variety can thrive. Also, cacao is a shade-loving
tree, in that it requires the shade of taller trees in order to produce. For
this reason, it is an ideal element of an agro-forest. Coastal Ecuador is
the most threatened tropical forest in the world98% of it has already been
lost. The main culprit is cattle ranching.
Our organization, Third Millennium Alliance, owns and manages a forest
preserve in one of the last remnants of forest in this region. To reduce
incentives to clear yet more forest in this region, we are working to
promote the cultivation of cacao on previously-deforested land, in
combination with other tree crops, as a sustainable economic solution for
local farmers. But our plan isnt to just promote cacao cultivation, and
then ship the raw material to Switzerland for chocolate production. Our plan
is to refine the cacao into high-grade (organic and fair-trade) dark
chocolate in-country. But we need help. Within the framework of our
two-month Community Education and Sustainable Development Internship, which
is based in the small agricultural community of Camarones, adjacent to our
nature preserve, we need an intern to take on this particular project, which
requires on-site research of both cacao cultivation and chocolate
production. More specifically, your project objectives are:
By talking with regional cacao cooperatives and certification groups,
combined with your own research, determine which varieties of cacao are
grown in this particular region, and how to discern one variety from another
By talking with local farmers, combined with your own research,
determine
how many 100lb sacks of raw cacao beans are produced per hectare of a
small-scale mixed agroforestry cacao plantation
By talking with Ecuadorian chocolate refineries, combined with your own
research, determine how many ounces of refined dark chocolate are produced
per 100lb sack of raw cacao beans
If the raw cacao beans are delivered to an existing chocolate refinery
in
Ecuador (based mostly in Quito), what would be the per-unit cost of 100 and
1,000 and 100,000 units of chocolate
If we were to build our own chocolate refinery in the community, what
equipment would we need, how much would it cost, and how is it operated?
What would be the on-going operation costs?
Are there any companies in Ecuador that specialize in, or have the
capacity, to manufacture biodegradable packaging for the finished product?
From either of the nearest sea ports of Manta or Guayaquil, what are the
over-seas shipping costs of the finished product?
So in other words, you need to research all of the costs and needs
associated with cultivation and production of cacao/chocolate. A good handle
on the Spanish language would be very helpful, as you will need to interview
lots of local people. If youre Spanish skills are not good, but you are
tremendously gung-ho, perhaps you will be able to overcome this obstacle by
force of sheer will.
This internship begins on October 15th of this year and ends on December
13th,. although an alternative date range can be arranged if needed (such
as September-October). If you are interested in applying, please go to
www.3malliance.org/internship and download the program description and the
application. Note, that the program description details both of our
internship programs; this particular project (the cacao project) is part of
the Community-based internship. Please send your application to
[email protected] with the subject heading CACAO INTERNSHIP.
For the right personespecially someone with a passion for chocolate and/or
agroforestrythis is an incredibly unique opportunity that could have a
significant long-term impacton sustainable forest-friendly development in
this region. We look forward to hearing from you.
Sincerely,
Third Millennium Alliance
www.3malliance.org
