Scaling cocoa agroforestry in Côte d'Ivoire: what needs to be in place?

Scaling cocoa agroforestry in Côte d'Ivoire: what needs to be in place?

On 16 June 2026 in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire, the Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT convened cocoa sector stakeholders to validate a framework for scaling cocoa agroforestry and identify the policies, finance, markets and support systems needed to advance zero-deforestation cocoa production.

A tree seedling can be produced, distributed, and delivered to a cocoa farmer. But the success of agroforestry depends on much more than planting trees. Does the farmer have the knowledge, incentives, financing, and institutional support to establish and manage the trees? Will markets, policies, and extension services sustain adoption? And, years from now, will the trees generate enough value to justify the investment?

These questions shaped the discussions at the Stakeholder Workshop on Scaling Agroforestry for Zero Deforestation Cocoa, convened by the Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT in Abidjan on 16 June 2026. Bringing together representatives from government, the Coffee-Cocoa Council, research institutions, cocoa companies, civil society, and development partners, cooperatives and producers.

The workshop underscored a critical message: scaling agroforestry requires far more than distributing tree seedlings. Participants agreed that lasting adoption depends on an enabling environment that aligns policies, strengthens institutions, creates market incentives, builds farmers' capacities, and mobilizes financing to support the long term expansion of agroforestry across Côte d'Ivoire's cocoa landscape.

View original article