Production and profitability of cocoa pulp in Ecuador : SMP-2220/2 November 2022
Year: 2024
Type: report
Abstract: A new market for cocoa juice beverages is currently developing with the potential to solve the current cocoa industry challenges related to fluctuating and low cocoa prices. This study investigates the feasibility of processing cocoa pulp collected from smallholders as a side product from cocoa beans production. Producing cocoa pulp as a by-product requires re-organising the collection of pods and processing of cocoa juice in a new process. Two options are evaluated in this report: the collection of cocoa pods in a central processing unit and the collection of cocoa pods and processing of pulp in a mobile processing unit. The study identified critical success factors of a modular circular approach with different cocoa products. We calculated production and processing costs, investment costs, evaluated current market and farm-gate prices and looked into possible additional impacts from collecting cocoa pulp. In both cases cocoa pulp extraction is feasible. Further research is needed to understand the impact of selling whole pods and cocoa juice and to investigate further opportunities to make the cocoa juice production more profitable for smallholder farmers.
DOI: 10.18174/646735
Authors: S. Desczka, M. van Santvoort, J. Renckens, F. Marcela, Z. Cornejo, R. Martinez, J. Cueva, R. Garces, B. Dijkink, M. Tarnich, A. Matser, H. ter Stege, R. van der Ven
Institution: Wageningen University & Research
Language: English
Subfield: Horticulture
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: gold
OpenAlex ID: W4401429217