AGROSAVIA presents progress in cadmium mitigation and the roadmap to address nickel in agriculture

• AGROSAVIA’s scientific results on the diagnosis, mapping, and bioremediation of cadmium in cacao were shared at the International Summit on Sustainability and Environmental Innovation, with a call to project these capabilities towards the study of nickel.

Bogotá D.C., September 15, 2025. Within the framework of the International Summit on Sustainability and Environmental Innovation, AGROSAVIA presented the progress achieved after more than ten years of research on the presence of cadmium in soils and cacao beans, as well as the mitigation strategies that today represent a key contribution to the competitiveness of the Colombian agricultural sector.

Associate PhD Researcher Daniel Bravo, from the Tibaitatá Research Center, highlighted that this work has enabled not only the diagnosis of the issue but also the offer of field-applicable solutions. “Thanks to a rigorous diagnostic process, we were able to publish in 2021 the first maps of cadmium in soils and, more recently, in cacao beans. We have also studied the geology and biogeochemical cycles associated with the metal, and in remediation, bioremediation has proven to be the most cost-effective strategy,” he stated.

Bravo emphasized that the findings must now be expanded towards the study of other elements, such as nickel, which also represent a challenge for agricultural safety. “The message we shared at this Summit is that with the accumulated knowledge we can support the cacao value chain in Colombia and extend this experience to the detection and management of nickel, ensuring that these metals do not become a trade barrier for our products,” he stressed.

Participation in this international space reflects AGROSAVIA’s commitment to generating scientific solutions that help reduce the presence of cadmium and nickel in production systems and strengthen Colombia’s agricultural safety.