During his remarks, José Luis Ayala, Technical Coordinator of the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA-Mexico), warned that climate change could reduce global GDP by 17% by 2050 and decrease global income by up to 60% if the current trend of overexploitation of natural resources continues. “We are consuming beyond the planet’s regenerative capacity. If we go on like this, we will need three planets to sustain our lifestyle in less than three decades,” he cautioned.
The opening of the 5th International Seminar on “Sustainability of the Cacao-Chocolate Value Chain” was led by Deputy Leticia Barrera Maldonado, President of the Commission for Rural Development and Food Self-Sufficiency, who expressed that the seminar organizers would receive support to translate their conclusions into concrete legislative proposals.
The ceremony was held at the "Aurora Jiménez de Palacios" Auditorium, with the attendance of representatives from the productive sector, academic institutions, international organizations, and experts from Colombia, Côte d’Ivoire, Spain, Guatemala, and Mexico, both in person and virtually.
On behalf of Dr. Julio Berdegué Sacristán, head of the Secretariat of Agriculture and Rural Development (AGRICULTURE), Laura Elisa Aguirre Reyes, Director General of Green Financing, announced that cacao would be prioritized in the Secretariat’s international cooperation agenda. “We want to place cacao at the center of the national green financing strategy and facilitate access to climate funds for projects that enhance its sustainability,” she emphasized, calling on the international community to support this vision.
From the Autonomous University of Chapingo, Dr. Josué Vicente Cervantes Bazán, Secretary General, delivered the message of Rector Dr. Angel Garduño García, who congratulated the organizers and emphasized that “the convergence of government institutions, the private sector, and educational and research institutions has enabled the creation of a relevant and solid program, whose outcomes will be of great value to all involved.”
“We at the Autonomous University of Chapingo,” said Dr. Cervantes Bazán, “recognize and value the commitment of our sector’s leadership—the Secretariat of Agriculture and Rural Development—in designing strategies that benefit Mexican cacao producers.”
Dr. Miguel García Winder, Director General of the National Institute of Forestry, Agricultural, and Livestock Research (INIFAP), reiterated the importance of agriculture as a driver of social progress and called on legislators for budgetary and regulatory support to advance the country’s food sovereignty.
The 5th International Seminar on “Sustainability of the Cacao-Chocolate Value Chain” will continue on July 25 with a program that includes keynote lectures, technical dialogue panels, and a trade expo of cacao-derived products. The event is hosted at the Chamber of Deputies, located at Av. Congreso de la Unión No. 66, El Parque neighborhood, Venustiano Carranza district, Mexico City.
Also noteworthy was the participation of Antonio Santos del Valle, President of the Tourism and Society Think Tank, who delivered the keynote address “Tourism as a Driver of Sustainability in the Cacao-Chocolate Value Chain.” In his presentation, Santos emphasized the strategic role of rural, community-based, and gastronomic tourism in adding value for cacao-producing communities. “Cacao and chocolate are not only cultural assets but also vehicles to promote resilient, sustainable, and authentic local economies,” he stated. Santos urged the integration of tourism into rural development programs through public policy, especially empowering women, youth, and Indigenous communities. His presentation was met with great interest by experts, producers, and institutional representatives present at the seminar.
