El taller ‘Cacao libre de cadmio’, organizado por el CIAT, CIRAD, y la AFD, se lleva a cabo del 12 al 14 de marzo en la sede del CIAT en Palmira,y tiene como objetivo integrar un consorcio de actores y disciplinas claves de la región, así como elaborar un proyecto de investigación aplicada que dé respuesta a este problema que afecta a los cacaoteros de Colombia, Perú y Ecuador. http://ow.ly/J43p30iU0UZ

1. Cacao for Peace Program (CfP)
Participative Agency Program Agreement (PAPA): USAID-USDA
Cacao libre de Cadmio
Taller regional Colombia – Ecuador - Perú
Cali, marzo 12-14, 2018
Cacao for Peace Activities for Tackling
the Cadmium in Cacao Issue
in Colombia
Juan F. Gallego, PhD
Agricultural Specialist
FAS-USDA, Bogotá

2. Cacao for Peace Program (CfP)
Participative Agency Program Agreement (PAPA): USAID-USDA
Cacao libre de Cadmio
Taller regional Colombia – Ecuador - Perú
Cali, marzo 12-14, 2018
• Value: $5 million • Duration: 2016 to 2021 • Implementer: USDA - FAS
Objective:
Strengthen key cacao public and private sector institutions in Colombia.
Focus Areas:
Education:
• Evaluation of Cd remediation materials, plant indicators and mapping protocol for optimized cacao
(Theobroma cacao L.) production
• Borlaug and Cochran fellowships
Institutional Technical Assistance:
• Geographical Information System Mapping for Optimized Cacao Production in Colombia:
Research:
• Reducing Cadmium in Cocoa Beans through Genome Edition
• Contribute to the research and transfer of the best agronomic practices to improve the management
and production of cacao addressing the Cadmium issue
Agricultural Extension
• Research activities will be supported by this focus area

3. CfP: Short term research proposals
(Objetivos y Actividades para desarrollar conocimiento o soluciones aplicables al corto plazo)
Evaluation of Cd remediation materials, plant indicators and mapping protocol for
optimized cacao (Theobroma cacao L.) production
Thesis Research Concept by Jhony Armando Benavides Bolaños, MS Candidate in Soil Science. Penn State University
Advisor: Dr. Patrick Drohan
“Although Colombian cocoa is recognized as a fine-flavored product, characteristic of only the 5% of all the cocoa produced in
the world (Abbott, 2017). However, evolving European Union food regulations directed at cadmium (Cd) in edible products,
would likely have a critical impact on Colombian cocoa exports, given that large proportion of the cacao cultivation in Colombia
occurs on soils with cadmium.
I hypothesize that soil remediation techniques using well-tested and cost-effective materials will decrease the mobility and
uptake of Cd by cacao plants. I also hypothesize that the use of affordable and worldwide available short-term crops can serve
as Cd presence indicator plants substantially reducing soil testing costs. Finally, I propose that a detailed soil Cd exploration in
South America will permit the design of a mapping protocol for cacao suitability areas.”
Funding mechanism:
USDA/FAS-Fulbright: Cooperative Agreement
USDA/FAS-PSU: Cost-Reimbursable Agreement
Time frame: 24 months
Cacao libre de Cadmio
Taller regional Colombia – Ecuador - Perú
Cali, marzo 12-14, 2018

4. CfP: CfP: Short term research proposals
(Objetivos y Actividades para desarrollar conocimiento o soluciones aplicables al corto plazo)
Geographical Information System Mapping for Optimized Cacao Production in Colombia:
Main partners:
• International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT, Spanish acronym)
• USDA/Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS)
• Pennsylvania State University (PSU)
In order to bolster cacao productivity in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta (SNSM) region, the USAID/USDA Cacao for Peace
initiative will map regional soil characteristics, water supply and cacao genetics. Doing so will promote a deeper understanding of
spatial variability of soil characteristics and cadmium, water supply for cacao cultivation, and assess the diversity of plants. This
project seeks to define suitable areas for optimal and sustainable cacao production and to identify high-yielding and high quality
cacao varieties.
Cadmium will be tested in: soils, beans and fertilizers
Also partnering with: UNODC, FEDECACAO, MADR, UPRA, IGAC, IVH, SNP, PC
Funding mechanism:
USDA/FAS-CIAT: Cooperative Agreement
USDA/FAS-PSU: Cost-Reimbursable Agreement
USDA/FAS-NRCS: Inter-agency agreement
Time frame: 18 months
Cacao libre de Cadmio
Taller regional Colombia – Ecuador - Perú
Cali, marzo 12-14, 2018

5. Activity 4: Reducing Cadmium in Cocoa Beans through Genome Edition
Main partner:
• International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT, Spanish acronym)
CIAT will explore the development of low-Cadmium cocoa cultivars through genome edition. During the first phase (first year)
CIAT will concentrate on the development of somatic embryogenesis and the establishment of a hydroponic system under
greenhouse conditions to measure Cd uptake and translocation in plants for selected Colombian cultivars. Once plant
regeneration is achieved in at least one cultivar, DNA-free genome editing will start on the second year.
Also partnering with: Other partners are welcome!
Funding mechanism:
USDA/FAS – CIAT Cooperative Agreement (depending on availability of funds)
Time frame: 24 months
Cacao libre de Cadmio
Taller regional Colombia – Ecuador - Perú
Cali, marzo 12-14, 2018
CfP: Medium term research proposals
(Objetivos y Actividades para desarrollar conocimiento o soluciones aplicables al corto plazo)

6. Activity 4: Contribute to the research and transfer of the best agronomic practices to
improve the management and production of cacao addressing the Cadmium issue.
Main partners:
• Colombian Corporation for Agricultural Research (CORPOICA, Spanish acronym)
This activity will strengthen CORPOICA capacity for research in cadmium by:
• Supporting the creation of a multi-discipline science team from various research centers of CORPOICA to address Cadmium
issues in soil-cacao systems in Colombia.
• Training Corpoica scientists in analytical methods for determination of total and bioavailable (fractionation) Cadmium, plant
physiology studies and analysis of cadmium metabolism.
• Developing standardized methods for determination of total and extractable/bioavailable Cd in soils and cacao plants at
CORPOICA’s laboratories.
• Supporting greenhouse facilities and supplies to conduct Cadmium research at Palmira research station in order to develop a
protocol for growing plants in greenhouse standardized conditions to assess toxicity effects of Cd in plants
• Supporting research in: a) plant traits (morphology/physiology) in response to various Cd soil levels from hotspot areas, b)
assessment of the response from the most used regional and international cacao clones used in different Colombian regions
to various Cd soil levels.
Funding mechanism:
USDA/ARS - CORPOICA: Cooperation Agreement
USDA/FAS – CORPOICA: Cooperative Agreement
Time frame: 36 months
Cacao libre de Cadmio
Taller regional Colombia – Ecuador - Perú
Cali, marzo 12-14, 2018
CfP: Medium term research proposals
(Objetivos y Actividades para desarrollar conocimiento o soluciones aplicables al medio plazo)

7. CACAO LIBRE DE CADMIO
Taller regional Colombia - Ecuador -
Perú
Cali, 12-14 Marzo 2018