AGROSAVIA strengthens the capacities of cocoa producers in Catatumbo to address climate change and crop management

September 2026. Ocaña, Norte de Santander. Within the framework of the Territorial Innovation Systems (TIS) project, led by MSc Researcher Felipe Montealegre, and the project “Development of Bioinnovation for the Sustainable Management and Resilience of Socioecological Landscapes in Páramo and Tropical Rainforest Ecosystems (Bioinnova)”, led by Dr. Yeirme Jaimes, Corporación colombiana de investigación agropecuaria (AGROSAVIA), through the La Suiza Research Center, conducted two complementary activities in the municipality of Ocaña.

The first activity was a training session for cocoa producers from the Catatumbo region in the department of Norte de Santander, as part of the TIS project. The second focused on collecting information for the socioeconomic characterization of producers involved in the Bioinnova project, an initiative being implemented in this region with funding from Colombia’s General Royalties System.

The meeting was attended by cocoa producers from the APRASEF association in the municipality of Convención and from ASOPORTE in Teorama. Participants engaged in an exchange and knowledge-update session focused on sustainable and efficient agricultural practices for crop management.

A central topic was Climate-Smart Agriculture, presented by Senior MSc Researcher Jairo Rojas Molina, who introduced various technological alternatives to reduce the effects of adverse climate events on production systems and strengthen their capacity to respond to these conditions.

The session also provided an opportunity to explore the importance of cocoa’s physiological and photosynthetic efficiency. In this segment, Associate Researcher Fabricio Carvalho, Ph.D., explained key aspects of pruning management and emphasized its importance for maintaining appropriate tree architecture, promoting physiological performance, and supporting long-term production sustainability.

These topics are particularly relevant given the water-deficit conditions currently affecting the region. Producers recognized the relevance of the topics addressed and noted that the tools and recommendations shared can help improve crop management, reduce vulnerability to adverse climate events, and strengthen the resilience of cocoa production in Catatumbo.