SHANAO CACAO
Vilage hub co-op mentoring and prototyping
The Shanao Cacao Collective utilize a comprehensive community based- village hub model, Incorporating a processing center, nursery, learning hub and model demonstration process to implement an integrated, regionally sustainable farming and conservation program. Shanao Cacao Collective fosters a grassroots, regenerative, agro-ecology based Forest Ambassador Model. At the root of this project, the ‘Mothers of APARMASH’ (MDA), a community network of women leaders, lead as agro-ecology ambassadors for spreading the adoption of sustainable farming practices and conservation of the forest ecosystems. This learning community model uses demonstration projects to engage the community by increasing awareness of the value of the diverse ecosystems throughout the Rio Mayo Valley. Working hand in hand with farmers and community stakeholders to disseminate sustainable farming and soil management practices, while raising awareness about the integral balance between the forest’s ecology, wildlife, and the sustainability of jungle villages. As part of the Forest Ambassador project, Shanao Cacao Collective is focused on expanding a conservation corridor, integrated with the MDA led – learning community efforts to expand protected areas, targeting water, wildlife and traditional food and medicine systems.
Chocolate production and resource managment implementation
Partnering with industry professionals and adopting best practice in the collection, fermentation, storage and export process. Shanao Cacao has an intimate knowledge of all aspects of the supply chain. From the farmer to the co-op. Batch, farm, Variety and all aspects of the production of Cacao is collected and used to ensure that the highest and most consistent quality cocoa is available to the growing bean to bar and chocolate production market. With an average yearly harvest of 20 tons across all quality and cost benchmarks, we seek to be a partner at every stage of the Cacao supply chain. Raw beans, Nibs, Couverture, Powder, Butter, and Bars.
Wild area mapping and conservation corridors
Using custom designed database tools and a web of local co-operative members a granular approach to conservation is starting to take form in the Alto Mayo region of San Martin Peru. Utilizing proprietary software Shanao Cacao is building a unique partnership between Farmers and the supply chain. Using farm resource maps and their inverse conservation corridors a web of public and underutilized marginal lands are being identified for joint conservation. Linking crops, trees, and data we're looking at the length of the Rio mayo with a view to replication. Using resources already available we look to concentrate our efforts on the data, including collection, analysis, and dissemination. Utilizing our status as a 501c3 we continue to advocate for the bio-diversity and wild areas of the River valleys of the upper Amazonian basin.