Can Belize Grow Its Cacao Industry Into a Major Export Sector?

The government of Belize has launched the National Cacao Committee, a new body tasked with driving growth in the country’s cacao industry.

The committee held its first meeting this week, bringing together government ministries, farmers, and exporters to set priorities for expanding production and improving infrastructure across the sector.

Senior Trade Economist Berisford Codd explained the importance of the initiative. “Cacao is very unique in that it’s largely controlled by small farmers. There’s approximately about 1,000 farmers who stand to benefit from any investments in the sector,” he said.

While cacao may not always be in the spotlight, it already plays a role in the country’s export economy. According to Codd, Belize exports roughly three to twelve million dollars in cacao annually, with much of that production coming from the Toledo District. There, cacao farming supports rural livelihoods and many indigenous communities.

Despite its modest size today, stakeholders believe the sector has significant room to grow, especially as global demand for high-quality cocoa increases. “The demand is there, the story is there behind how cacao is produced in Belize, and the flavour profile is excellent,” Codd said.

During the meeting, members identified several priorities for the year ahead, including expanding production and processing capacity, investing in digital tools such as a national farmer registry and farm mapping, improving farm access roads, and exploring legal reforms to better structure the industry.

Legislation was also discussed as a possible way to strengthen oversight and attract investment. “It would help us to put that registry together to seek further developments and investments by government, such as certification across the industry,” Codd explained.

The committee is co-led by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, the Ministry of Agriculture, and the Ministry of Rural Transformation and includes key players in the industry such as the Toledo Cacao Growers Association, Belize Cacao, and Maya Mountain Cacao, the country’s largest exporter.