> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://thechocolatelife.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # UPDATED / TCL::LIVE – The Past, Present & Future of Cacao? - URL: https://thechocolatelife.com/thechocolatelife-live-the-past-present-and-future-of-cacao/ - Published: 2022-11-24T22:14:13.000Z - Updated: 2022-12-01T15:39:25.000Z - Description: Episode 69 streams live from 12:00~13:00 EST Friday, Nov 25th. Updated to include galleries of photos shown during the live stream. - Author: TheChocolateWire - Tags: Live Stream, The Wire I’ve been thinking a lot about the multi-faceted topics of cacao for over twenty years, but more so than usual in the past five months. After eighteen months of no travel at all – and just one trip to a cocoa-producing country (Nigeria) in the first twenty-nine months since lockdowns started here in the US! – I visited three cocoa-producing countries in S America (Brazil, Colombia, and Ecuador) within four months. As a part of those travels I got to see traditional smallholder farming in and very technified farming in the province of Guayas, about an hour’s drive west from Guayaquil. While I did not get a chance to see it in person, Barry Callebaut’s “Farm of the Future” is in the same area. [Barry Callebaut establishes Farm of the Future - NewsTechnology and innovation are key to the future of food system evolution, providing opportunities for improving farmer productivity and resilience.![](https://149845173.v2.pressablecdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/cropped-kC-eagle-270x270.png)Kennedy’s Confection![](https://149845173.v2.pressablecdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Cocoa-Farm-of-Future-Barry-Callebaut.png)](https://kennedysconfection.co.uk/barry-callebaut-establishes-farm-of-the-future/?ref=thechocolatelife.com) Not only did I get a chance to see a number of different systems of cocoa farming, I had the good fortune to be able to sit in on a presentation by Dr Francisco Valdez, one of the lead researchers in the archaeological and anthropological work being done in the province of Zamora Chinchipe in southeastern Ecuador, about what they found there. Coincidentally, shortly after leaving Ecuador I was a guest of Barry Callebaut at their 2nd Generation Chocolate launch – which is both forward-looking while at the same time a reflection of the past, rooted in the realities of the present day. While BC is talking about chocolate, one fundamental talking point is the need to think about cocoa differently from the ways they have been thinking about. [Updated: TheChocolateLife::LIVE – 2nd Generation ChocolateEpisode 67 streams live from 12:00 EST Friday November 18th.![](https://thechocolatelife.com/content/images/size/w256h256/2020/12/JR_Pods60x60FavIconCutoutButtons.png)The Chocolate LifeTheChocolateWire![](https://thechocolatelife.com/content/images/2022/11/G2Choc_Featured1920x1080.jpg)](https://thechocolatelife.com/thechocolatelife-live-2nd-generation-chocolate/) At the same time, fermented alternatives to cocoa have shown up again in recent chocolate news: [WNWN expands London lab for cocoa-free chocolate productionFollowing the expansion, WNWN can begin producing in volume to supply a more ethical alternative to commoditized chocolate to CPG food companies.![](https://www.candyindustry.com/images/favicon/apple-touch-icon-152.png)Candy Industry![](https://www.candyindustry.com/ext/resources/2022/11/03/WNWN-Food-Labs---Cacao-Free-Choc-Box.JPG?height=635&t=1668036088&width=1200)](https://www.candyindustry.com/articles/90781-wnwn-expands-london-lab-for-cocoa-free-chocolate-production?ref=thechocolatelife.com) In this episode of TheChocolateLife::LIVE I will be exploring what I witnessed, read, and researched *and how it may all tie together.* --- ### **Galleries** ![](https://thechocolatelife.com/content/images/2022/11/01.-AbelhaCacau-Large.jpeg) ![](https://thechocolatelife.com/content/images/2022/11/02.-AbelhaCacau-Large.jpeg) ![](https://thechocolatelife.com/content/images/2022/11/03.-AbelhaCacau-Large.jpeg) Abelha Cacau in Altamira, Pará Brazil. ![](https://thechocolatelife.com/content/images/2022/11/04a.-Sprouting-Large.jpeg) ![](https://thechocolatelife.com/content/images/2022/11/04b.-FazendaBonanca-Large.jpeg) In Bahia, Brazil – Sprouting fermentation sign at Fazenda Capela Velha; Fazenda Bonança ![](https://thechocolatelife.com/content/images/2022/11/06a.-ChicaoChocolate-Large.jpeg) ![](https://thechocolatelife.com/content/images/2022/12/chicaoTreeUpdate_Final-1.jpg) ![](https://thechocolatelife.com/content/images/2022/11/06b.-FincaBlancaMargaritaPods-Large.jpeg) ![](https://thechocolatelife.com/content/images/2022/11/12.-ChicaoChocolate-Large.jpeg) In Puerto Quito, Pichincha, Ecuador on the Finca Blanca Margarita. \[T,R\] Pedro Saavedra sent me this photo of the tree shown in the featured image. They are in the middle of harvest on the farm – this tree produced 124 pods! ![](https://thechocolatelife.com/content/images/2022/11/33.-HaciendaVictoria-Large.jpeg) ![](https://thechocolatelife.com/content/images/2022/11/33a.-HaciendaVictoria-PostHarvest-Large.jpeg) ![](https://thechocolatelife.com/content/images/2022/11/38.-IEET-800-Large.jpeg) ![](https://thechocolatelife.com/content/images/2022/11/41a.-HaciendaDelAlto-Large.jpeg) Near Cerecita in Guayas, Ecuador, technified cacao farming in the dry forest – top row and bottom row left are on the Hacienda Victoria; bottom right is on the Hacienda del Alto. ![](https://thechocolatelife.com/content/images/2022/11/44.-Eco-KakaoLosRios-Large.jpeg) ![](https://thechocolatelife.com/content/images/2022/11/44a.-Eco-KakaoLosRios-Large.jpeg) Near Buena Fe in Los Rios, Ecuador – a smallholder farm and one of the largest covered fermentation centers I have personally seen under construction. The entire facility will, when complete, process an average of over 50MT/day across the entire year. The future of cacao cannot be known, but some aspects of its future may be being determined – and we can see some of what that looks like – and so it makes sense to take a look at some current influences. ## Live Stream Links ### **Watch/Participate on YouTube, Facebook, or LinkedIn.** [Visit TheChocolateWire Channel on YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCIN8M30NdPJ5WAl41g5VWWw?ref=thechocolatelife.com) [My LinkedIn profile](https://www.linkedin.com/posts/claygordon%5Fbarrycallebaut-g2chocolate-guayas-activity-7001666210450800640-CNsu?utm%5Fsource=share&utm%5Fmedium=member%5Fdesktop) [TheChocolateLife page](https://www.facebook.com/TheChocolateLife/) live event --- ### **Hashtags** #BarryCallebaut #G2Chocolate #Guayas #Ecuador #Brazil #Colombia #TheChocolateLife #TheChocolateLifeLIVE #LaVidaCocoa ---