Aligning Strategic Objectives with Research and Development Activities in a Soft Commodity Sector: A Technological Plan for Colombian Cocoa Producers

Sebastián Escobar, Margareth Santander, Pilar Useche, Carlos Contreras and Jader Rodríguez
Additional contact information
Sebastián Escobar: Corporación Colombiana de Investigación Agropecuaria—Agrosavia, Centro de Investigación Tibaitatá—Km 14, vía Mosquera-Bogotá, Mosquera, P.O. Box 344300, Colombia
Margareth Santander: Corporación Colombiana de Investigación Agropecuaria—Agrosavia, Centro de Investigación Tibaitatá—Km 14, vía Mosquera-Bogotá, Mosquera, P.O. Box 344300, Colombia
Pilar Useche: Food and Resource Economics Department, University of Florida, P.O. Box 112015, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
Carlos Contreras: Corporación Colombiana de Investigación Agropecuaria—Agrosavia, Centro de Investigación Tibaitatá—Km 14, vía Mosquera-Bogotá, Mosquera, P.O. Box 344300, Colombia
Jader Rodríguez: Corporación Colombiana de Investigación Agropecuaria—Agrosavia, Centro de Investigación Tibaitatá—Km 14, vía Mosquera-Bogotá, Mosquera, P.O. Box 344300, Colombia

Agriculture, 2020, vol. 10, issue 5, 1-32

Abstract: Although Colombia has the potential to be a cocoa producer for fine flavor and high value markets, it is not greatly recognized as such. In spite of the government’s interest to position the country as a major specialty cocoa producer, no strategic actions have been taken to develop and strengthen this aspect of the value chain. This study structured a technology roadmap for the sector that identifies major research and development investment opportunities by examining the current challenges and weaknesses in key dimensions of the sector (e.g., postharvest technology, quality, capacity, and markets) that impinge on quality and add value to the product. These challenges are identified through a multidimensional and region-specific gap analysis that integrates the advances and technological trends developed worldwide as ideal practice scenarios. The findings of this study should help in prioritizing the investment of public and private resources in the sector in order to better position Colombia in the global specialty cocoa market.

Keywords: global value chains; specialty cocoa; cocoa-chocolate value chain; Colombian cocoa; gap analysis; R& D; technological plan; upgrading; innovation (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q10 Q11 Q12 Q13 Q14 Q15 Q16 Q17 Q18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jagris:v:10:y:2020:i:5:p:141-:d:352382

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