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Chocolate field glossary

Agroforestry

A managed system combining cacao with other trees or crops; outcomes depend on design, history and management.

Botany · working definition

Use the word
with precision.

Why it matters
Shade design can affect farm ecology, crop diversity, resilience and income, but outcomes depend on management and local context.
Common confusion
A photograph of cacao beneath trees does not prove biodiversity, secure land rights or a particular climate outcome.
Practical example
A managed cacao system may include timber, fruit and native shade species with different functions and trade-offs.
Evidence trail

Read beyond
the definition.

Public institutionPromoting zero-deforestation cocoa production in Côte d’Ivoire

Agroforestry, land-tenure, human-rights and livelihood framing for forest-positive cocoa.

Food and Agriculture Organization
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