BRAZIL 🇧🇷 STEPS UP ⬆️ THE CACAO GAME

 

Schmidt's $300 million plan is the largest and the most innovative in that region, but not the only one. There are similar super-sized projects under development, some of them nearly as big, as well-capitalized farming groups look to apply industrial-scale agriculture expertise to cocoa production to profit from sky-high prices for the beans.






RIACHAO DAS NEVES, Brazil, April 22 (Reuters) - In the Brazilian state of Bahia, farmer Moises Schmidt is developing the world's largest cocoa farm.
His plan is to revolutionize the way the main ingredient in chocolate is produced, growing high-yield cocoa trees, fully irrigated and fertilized, in an area bigger than the island of Manhattan that is not currently known for producing the beans.


















If those plans work, the industry's center of gravity could shift back to Brazil, where the cocoa tree is native, from West Africa.


"I believe Brazil will become the world's cocoa breadbasket," Schmidt told Reuters while walking amid row after row of young cocoa trees stretching to the distance in this flat savanna land in the country's Centre-North region.



He estimates that as much as 500,000 hectares (1.236 million acres) of high yield cocoa farms could be in place in Brazil in 10 years, which would produce as much as 1.6 million tons of cocoa.

By comparison, Brazil currently produces only around 200,000 tons, while the world's top grower Ivory Coast harvests 10 times more than that. Ghana, the second largest global grower, produces around 700,000 tons of the beans.


Currently, the global cocoa industry is in crisis. Production is failing in Ivory Coast and neighboring Ghana, which between them grow more than 60% of the world's cocoa. A potent mix of plant disease, climate change and aging plantations has led to three consecutive years of falling output.

Moisés Schmidt is a prominent cacao farmer and agribusiness leader in the state of Bahia, Brazil. Here's what makes him noteworthy:

 * Pioneering Cocoa Cultivation in Western Bahia: He is recognized for pioneering the introduction of full-sun, high-yield cocoa cultivation in the western region of Bahia, an area not traditionally known for cocoa production. This began around 2019.

 * Schmidt Agrícola: He owns Schmidt Agrícola, a large agricultural company initially focused on crops like soybeans, corn, and cotton. Under his leadership, the company has significantly invested in expanding cocoa farming in western Bahia.

 * World's Largest Cocoa Farm Ambition: Schmidt has an ambitious plan to develop what could be the world's largest cocoa farm, potentially larger than Manhattan. His goal is to revolutionize cocoa production through high-yield, fully irrigated, and fertilized trees.

 * High Yields and Technology: His methods involve planting a high density of trees per hectare (around 1,600 compared to the traditional 300) and utilizing advanced agricultural technology to achieve significantly higher yields, aiming for over 4,000 kg per hectare.

 * Cacau do Cerrado Brand: This is the chocolate brand that Schmidt's operation has created, handling the process from seedling to the final product.

 * Leadership Roles: Moisés Schmidt is the president of AIBA (Association of Farmers and Irrigators of Bahia), highlighting his influence in the regional agricultural sector. He also leads the Bahia Farm Show, a major agricultural technology and business fair.

 * Focus on Quality and Sustainability: While his large-scale approach is innovative, there's also mention of his family's history with cocoa and their adaptation to challenges like the "Witches Broom" disease, suggesting a long-term perspective on cocoa farming.


It's worth noting that while Moisés Schmidt is making significant strides in large-scale cocoa production, there are also established, highly regarded organic cacao farms in Bahia, such as Fazenda Camboa. Fazenda Camboa is known for its organic practices, support of the local community, and production of high-quality Trinitario and Forastero cacao beans, which are often used by craft chocolate makers worldwide.


While Schmidt's focus appears to be on large-scale, high-yield production to meet global demand, farms like Fazenda Camboa emphasize organic and sustainable practices within the traditional cocoa-growing region of Bahia. Both approaches contribute to the diverse and evolving landscape of Brazilian cacao farming.




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