2nd Conversation ‘The Aroma of Travel’: Origins of cacao in the Upper Amazon
04-09-24
With the participation of the archaeologist and anthropologist Dr. Francisco Valdez.
Friday 6 September at 9.00 a.m. (Peru)
The conversation has simultaneous translation service
The World Cocoa and Derivatives Tourist Destinations Network, a program of the Tourism and Society Think Tank, is pleased to invite you to the 2nd Conservatory of its series “The Aroma of Travel”. On this occasion, Amora Carbajal, General Director of the World Cocoa and Derivatives Tourist Destinations Network, will talk with leading Ecuadorian archaeologist, Dr. Francisco Valdez, about the fascinating origins of cocoa in the Upper Amazon.
Dr. Valdez, who has led key research demonstrating the Amazonian origin of Theobroma cacao, is a renowned archaeologist and anthropologist. With a degree in Political and Social Sciences from the Catholic University of Ecuador and a PhD in Prehistoric Ethnology and Comparative Sociology from the University of Paris X, Nanterre, Dr. Valdez has dedicated his life to the study of the ancient civilizations of the Amazon region and the Ecuadorian Pacific coast.
His work has revealed extraordinary findings that have changed the understanding of the origins of cacao, a plant whose history is deeply rooted in Amazonian culture and biodiversity.
Dr. Francisco Valdez
This discussion is a unique opportunity to learn first-hand about the research of Dr. Valdez, who has worked as a research associate at prestigious institutions such as the Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD) and the Museum National d'Histoire Naturelle in Paris.
His experience ranges from teaching at the Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador to directing archaeological research at several key sites in the Upper Amazon and the Colombian border.
“The Aroma of Travel” is an initiative that seeks not only to explore the rich history of cacao and its transformation into chocolate, but also to promote sustainable tourism that values and respects the territories and communities linked to this heritage.
Through this series of meetings, the World Cocoa and Derivatives Tourist Destinations Network aims to create a space for dialogue where experts and cocoa enthusiasts share their knowledge, inspiring participants to delve deeper into the relationship between cocoa, its origins and its impact on local communities.
The second “The Aroma of Travel” conversation will take place on September 6 at 9 a.m. (Peru time zone), 8:00 a.m. in Guatemala, 11 a.m. in Argentina and 4.00 p.m. in Spain.
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