Ecuador

As of 1994, we started working in the country’s cocoa and coffee sectors. In the next two decades, we built our expertise in the professionalisation of farmer organisations and sustainable production. Currently, we are implementing our Cocoa & coffee programme, and our Good Food for Cities programme in the cities of Quito, San Vicente and Jama. 2025 was also the last full year of a big EU-funded project called CREA, which supports Ecuadorian producer organisations and MSMEs that care about sustainability to tap into European markets.

Sustainable Cocoa and Coffee programme highlights for 2025

Strengthening the country’s cocoa sector in the face of climate change through a low-carbon agriculture approach is the main objective of a new partnership with the company OFI and the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ). 2,426 farmers received specialised training on climate change. In addition, inputs and materials were provided to 144 farmers to implement agroforestry systems, while 115 farmers received technical kits to support the adoption of regenerative production models that strengthen their adaptation and mitigation capacities, in line with Ecuador’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) for the agricultural sector. A total of 947 biological input, pruning and renovation kits were distributed to farmers in six provinces. This way, improved production capacities of farmers go hand in hand with more efficient and environmentally responsible production practices. At sectoral level, through coordination and agreements with two financial institutions (FACES and BanEcuador), we addressed access to credit and financial education training for cocoa-producing families. And together with the Central University of Ecuador, we began assessing and evaluating GHG emissions at farm level.

Good Food for Cities programme highlights for 2025

In Quito, Rikolto contributed to the creation of the Healthy Food Neighbourhoods Ordinance, approved by the Metropolitan Council of Quito. The ordinance promotes school vegetable gardens as a strategy to improve access to healthy food in schools. To put this into action, we are working with CONQUITO, the economic development agency of Quito, on an implementation agenda that will start in 2027. Alongside this policy work, Rikolto and Quito Food Bank (BAQ) developed and tested a free-range egg solidarity business model to improve access to nutritious food for children in vulnerable neighbourhoods. The model relies on a cross-subsidisation mechanism: eggs with a production cost of €0.19 are sold at €0.39 to premium buyers, generating margins that can sustain the operation and subsidise eggs for school children. Having demonstrated financial viability, a commercial study has been conducted to support upscaling of the model. Both initiatives are funded by the Gillès Foundation.

‍