The Cocoa Commodity Chain in the Peruvian and Ecuadorian Amazonia: Similar Industrial Upgrading Processes but Divergent Socio-Environmental Constructions.

Saved in:

Bibliographic Details
Title:	The Cocoa Commodity Chain in the Peruvian and Ecuadorian Amazonia: Similar Industrial Upgrading Processes but Divergent Socio-Environmental Constructions.
Authors:	José Viejó-Bautista, María¹ majoviba@gmail.com, Angie Higuchi² ahiguchi@pucp.edu.pe, Alfalla-Luque, Rafaela³ alfalla@us.es, Coq-Huelva, Daniel⁴ dcoq@us.es
Source:	Journal of Industrial Engineering & Management. 2025, Vol. 18 Issue 3, p594-621. 28p.
Subjects:	Cocoa, Commodity chains, Agricultural industries, Sustainable development, Ecuadorians, Rain forests, Countries, Ecological impact
Geographic Terms:	Ecuador, Peru
Abstract:	Purpose: To analyse the functioning of the Amazonian cocoa commodity chain in Napo (Ecuador) and Tocache (Peru), focusing on the factors that shape its governance and the attempts at its subversion through economic, social and environmental upgrading processes. Design/methodology/approach: The research focused on the Amazon basin in the provinces of Napo (Ecuador) and Tocache (Peru). A mixed qualitative and quantitative approach was used that considered not only the local scale but also the operation of the national and global cocoa commodity chains. Findings: Even though the geographical environment in which cocoa is cultivated provides a similar set of stimuli, the starting point and history of cocoa farming in the two countries are dissimilar. The social features of the farmers, the agricultural management systems, the associated income levels and the environmental effects are also very different. In addition, local agents are strongly influenced by starting imbalances in price negotiations and distinct degrees of access to liquid assets. All of these factors have different impacts not only on the quality of the cacao production but also on the socio-environmental effects of the production. In the Ecuadorian Amazon, cocoa is a factor in territorial conservation and Indigenous empowerment, while in the Peruvian Amazon, cocoa production has contributed to the settlement processes and expansion of the agricultural frontier. This expansion has had a number of negative environmental effects, in that even if it does not contribute to deforestation (given the previous history with coca leaves), cocoa cultivation does eventually stabilize previous deforestation dynamics. However, despite the classic conflict between economic development and ecological deterioration, cocoa cultivation represents an economic opportunity for the area. Social implications: This research highlights the potential of cocoa not only as an economic driver, but also as an instrument for reshaping territorial and environmental relations. A clearer understanding of how global commodity chains interact with local socio-environmental dynamics is essential for promoting more equitable and sustainable development in the Amazon region. Cocoa is a strong income source that tends to be distributed throughout local societies, and it generates this income through the actions of a number of institutions (cooperatives and producers' associations) with the capacity to improve local governance. Furthermore, despite the significant differences in the two cases studies, cocoa generates alternatives to more environmentally aggressive land use such as livestock farming (in Ecuador) or coca cultivation (in Peru). Therefore, from an environmental perspective, in both places cocoa is better than the existing alternatives. In Ecuador, this is due to the characteristics of the chacra system, and in Peru, it is due to its ability to mitigate some of the negative effects of coca cultivation. Originality/value: This study compares two Latin-American countries' Amazonian cocoa production systems. It emphasises the socio-environmental features using a multiscale orientation that focused on the interaction between the global, national and local scales. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
	Copyright of Journal of Industrial Engineering & Management is the property of Omnia Science and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
Database:	Engineering Source

Description
Abstract:	Purpose: To analyse the functioning of the Amazonian cocoa commodity chain in Napo (Ecuador) and Tocache (Peru), focusing on the factors that shape its governance and the attempts at its subversion through economic, social and environmental upgrading processes. Design/methodology/approach: The research focused on the Amazon basin in the provinces of Napo (Ecuador) and Tocache (Peru). A mixed qualitative and quantitative approach was used that considered not only the local scale but also the operation of the national and global cocoa commodity chains. Findings: Even though the geographical environment in which cocoa is cultivated provides a similar set of stimuli, the starting point and history of cocoa farming in the two countries are dissimilar. The social features of the farmers, the agricultural management systems, the associated income levels and the environmental effects are also very different. In addition, local agents are strongly influenced by starting imbalances in price negotiations and distinct degrees of access to liquid assets. All of these factors have different impacts not only on the quality of the cacao production but also on the socio-environmental effects of the production. In the Ecuadorian Amazon, cocoa is a factor in territorial conservation and Indigenous empowerment, while in the Peruvian Amazon, cocoa production has contributed to the settlement processes and expansion of the agricultural frontier. This expansion has had a number of negative environmental effects, in that even if it does not contribute to deforestation (given the previous history with coca leaves), cocoa cultivation does eventually stabilize previous deforestation dynamics. However, despite the classic conflict between economic development and ecological deterioration, cocoa cultivation represents an economic opportunity for the area. Social implications: This research highlights the potential of cocoa not only as an economic driver, but also as an instrument for reshaping territorial and environmental relations. A clearer understanding of how global commodity chains interact with local socio-environmental dynamics is essential for promoting more equitable and sustainable development in the Amazon region. Cocoa is a strong income source that tends to be distributed throughout local societies, and it generates this income through the actions of a number of institutions (cooperatives and producers' associations) with the capacity to improve local governance. Furthermore, despite the significant differences in the two cases studies, cocoa generates alternatives to more environmentally aggressive land use such as livestock farming (in Ecuador) or coca cultivation (in Peru). Therefore, from an environmental perspective, in both places cocoa is better than the existing alternatives. In Ecuador, this is due to the characteristics of the chacra system, and in Peru, it is due to its ability to mitigate some of the negative effects of coca cultivation. Originality/value: This study compares two Latin-American countries' Amazonian cocoa production systems. It emphasises the socio-environmental features using a multiscale orientation that focused on the interaction between the global, national and local scales. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
ISSN:	20138423
DOI:	10.3926/jiem.8983