| Cacao may be a valuable market-based conservation initiative in Colombia as this cash crop is more beneficial for biodiversity than are other crop alternatives, and Colombian cacao production is dominated by small "organic by default" shaded farms. This research assessed the magnitude and risk of the investment needed by cacao growers in Santander to be certified by Rainforest Alliance, and the premiums that make certification profitable. I characterized 14 cacao farms and defined changes required for certification, calculated Net Present Values (NVP) for farms with and without certification, and performed a risk analysis for certified farms obtaining a premium.; Results show that certification without a premium causes substantial income decrements for farmers, and that even when obtaining a premium, income increments are not certain for certified farms. This underscores the need to support farmers seeking certification financially and organizationally, and to link certification to commercialization strategies offering premiums. |
