Youth and Innovation: How Generational Renewal is Transforming Cacao in the Amazon

The growing global demand for Amazonian products such as cacao has sparked discussions on how to address technical challenges such as aging plantations, inadequate fertilization, irregular cultivation practices, and a high incidence of pests and diseases, to boost production in southern Colombian regions like the municipality of San José del Fragua in Caquetá department. Since 2016, following the signing and implementation of the peace agreement, this Andean-Amazonian territory has emerged as the leading cacao producer in the department.

Alongside these production concerns, another critical question arises: Who will produce the cacao of tomorrow? Colombia’s rural population is aging, and young people are increasingly turning away from agriculture, often seeking better livelihood and educational opportunities than those available in rural areas. These conditions, coupled with poverty and persistent social inequalities, frequently drive youth toward urban centers or into illicit economies.