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 and Manabi. We are also implementing 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 2024

As part of the EU-funded CREA project, together with ESPOL we have been supporting sustainable production through a traceability tool, an environmental footprint study for cocoa and a cadmium study for cocoa. We strengthened market access in the EU for 14 cocoa and coffee producer organisations and 9 MSMEs, generating over $2 million in business opportunities. In addition, the Digital Platform https://ecuadoragroalimentario.com was launched, as an online shopping window for Ecuadorian companies to showcase their products. Additionally, we fostered an enabling environment, backing national initiatives like the Cocoa and Chocolate Summit and CHOKAO, and supporting the Cocoa 2030 Coalition to adopt a multi-stakeholder approach. We also supported the Ministry of Agriculture in defining the necessary regulations to facilitate compliance with the new regulation on organic production 2018/848 by farmer organisations.

Good Food for Cities programme highlights for 2024

19 young entrepreneurs continued their Generation Food trajectory in Quito! 7 of these ventures received €2,648 each in capital funding to strengthen and scale their business. Two received an additional funding of €4,413 each from other organisations. In addition, our partner, a business incubator of the Municipality of Quito, has integrated into its own programmes Generation Food themes, such as sustainable food production, improved access to safe, healthy and fresh food, and organic waste management. In parallel, Rikolto partnered with local actors to roll out a solidarity business model ("cross-subsidy" approach) for the production and commercialisation of free-range eggs. One of the objectives of this pilot supported by Gilles Foundation is to increase the proportion of protein in children's diets in schools served by the Banco de Alimentos de Quito. The initiative focuses on two communities with high levels of chronic child malnutrition.