05/06/2026
This ๐ช๐ผ๐ฟ๐น๐ฑ ๐๐ป๐๐ถ๐ฟ๐ผ๐ป๐บ๐ฒ๐ป๐ ๐๐ฎ๐, we recognize the powerful role of cacao farmers in protecting both people and the planet. ๐ฑ๐ค
In Mindanao, smallholder cacao farmers are proving that agriculture and environmental conservation can grow hand in hand. Through agroforestry practices, farmers cultivate cacao beneath diverse tree canopies that help preserve biodiversity, improve soil health, reduce erosion, and create more climate-resilient farms.
Beyond harvesting cacao, farmers are also planting endemic tree species in forest fringes vulnerable to extraction and deforestation. These trees help capture and store carbon from the atmosphere, creating opportunities for farmers to earn additional income through the voluntary carbon market. Instead of waiting years for carbon credits to be verified and sold, participating farmers receive support through agreed payment schedules, including advance payments that help sustain their livelihoods.
One example is the โMinTreesโ agroforestry initiative of Kennemer Eco Solutions, which has worked with around 3,000 smallholder cacao farmers in Mindanao from 2015 to 2023. By integrating cacao farming with agroforestry systems, the initiative has helped support more stable incomes while strengthening environmental protection efforts.
Recognizing the value of this approach, Kennemer Eco Solutions and MEDA partnered through the RIISA project, funded by Global Affairs Canada, to bring carbon trading initiatives to cacao farming communities in Paquibato District. Working alongside MEDA-supported cooperatives such as Malabog Integrated Enterprises Development Cooperative (MIEDECO), the initiative ensures that farmers are actively involved in shaping how carbon credit payment schemes are designed and implemented.
Today, we celebrate all cacao farmers who continue to nurture the land while helping build a greener and more resilient future for all.
