How we cultivate and protect Fine Aroma Cacao

Before Cultivation

Durca begins by studying the land itself: soil, climate, and the living genetics that define each terroir.

Key Practices

• Genetic mapping: 50% of cacao trees across Mache Chindul, Quinindé, and Napo are already tagged and geo-referenced. Each tree is documented with coordinates, lineage data, and field observations from our agronomists.
• Scientific collaboration: In partnership with INIAP and local biologists, Durca identifies and preserves Nacional Fino de Aroma lineages. DNA samples from “mother trees” are analyzed and stored to maintain Ecuador’s native genetic diversity.

This stage creates the foundation for sustainable growth. The information gathered determines planting density, shade management, and soil recovery strategies that preserve natural balance while maintaining productivity.

During Cultivation

Every plantation is designed as a living ecosystem, where cacao grows alongside native species; this model prevents monoculture, connects forest corridors, and allows biodiversity to regenerate while production continues.

Key Practices

• Regenerative agroforestry: Cacao trees develop beneath native forest canopies, intercropped with 15–20 endemic species such as laurel, guayacán, and palm. Each hectare maintains shade with trees, which regulate temperature, enrich the soil, and sustain natural water cycles.
• Ecosystem restoration: Over 2 hectares of previously degraded land have been restored through soil rehabilitation and native tree planting. Durca invests approximately USD 1,000 per hectare to recover fertility and biodiversity, working with 5 local families. More than 1,000 trees have been planted, forming the foundation for connected landscapes where wildlife can return.
• The transition program: Farmers progressively replace hybrid cacao with Nacional Fino de Aroma through grafting and field selection. Each year, around 100 trees are re-grafted in the Amazon region, combining strong hybrid root systems with native genetics to recover both productivity and heritage.

Through this approach, Durca treats regeneration as part of daily practice, where caring for the land and creating value move in the same direction.

After Harvest

Once the cacao is harvested, the focus turns to traceability, education, and transformation, ensuring that every process, from fermentation to final chocolate, upholds the same principles.

Key Practices

• Post-Harvest and Production Integrity: Fermentation and drying take place close to origin to preserve terroir expression and reduce transport impact. In Durca’s factory, controlled roasting and refining maintain each origin’s identity, allowing transparency to extend into every finished product.
• Traceability and data monitoring: Each batch of cacao can be followed from tree to finished bar through Durca’s internal monitoring system, which will soon be publicly displayed.
• Education and farmer empowerment: Ongoing training in Napo and Quinindé supports young farmers in agroforestry, fermentation, and quality control. The upcoming 2027 Durca Academy will formalize these programs, linking field practice with innovation at the Maison.

By measuring results, educating partners, and opening data to review, the Maison builds a model where progress is collective, and responsibility continues beyond the harvest.

Durca’s commitment to sustainability extends beyond cultivation and production. It is a framework for how we engage with culture, innovation, and global collaboration. Every stage of this process leads back to the same belief: the future of cacao depends on how we care for its origin.

Read next: The Genetic Legacy of Ecuadorian Cacao