When we first encountered Guarda Bosques, a farming cooperative centered around cacao, we were enchanted by the flavors and the forest farms. Never before had we tasted 100 percent pure cacao that was so smooth and sweet. We immediately saw the connection between the work we do at the Universal Foundation for Holistic Design, and that of Guarda Bosques. The 80-20 System, which is the first Holistic Design we have been sharing with the world since its inception in 2018, transforms an entire agroindustrial supply chain from soil to stomach. Focused around education, it builds a supply web of autonomous cooperatives united under one connective system designed for the benefit of all who call this planet home. As we began to share the vision of 80-20 and how Holistic Design can restructure our world, it became clear that Guarda Bosques were following many of the same principles necessary to create surplus based systems, allowing our species to thrive while being a beneficial member of an interconnected and interdependent world.

The Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta region of Colombia, where the cooperative is located, has a traumatic history. Many of the Sierras Colombian residents' ancestors fled civil war in the 1950’s and began farming on Indigenous territory. When the local militia got into cocaine production in the 1980’s most of the non-indigenous run farms either switched over to coca production of their own volition or were forced to. Violence increased and had a major effect on the region. American interests in association with Colombian authorities began spraying toxic chemicals called glyphosates from the air on the Colombian forests to destroy coca production. The chemicals ruined crops, rivers and the health of the forests. When people began to get sick and even die, the farmers began to organize. Luckily the region where Guarda Bosques is located was never sprayed. When the locals heard that their region would be targeted, the farmers had two options, either they grow cacao instead of coca or the land was going to be sprayed. Many farms in the area were already growing cacao and found themselves in the middle of the situation. The farmers adopted this movement en masse to, more or less, influence the neighbors who were growing coca to change, knowing that this was their opportunity to bring peace and prosperity to the region. In the early 2000’s when the dialogue for peace began between the local militia and the government, collectively the farmers decided to initiate the program to substitute cacao for coca. It was through this transition that Guarda Bosques was born.

The farmers adopted this movement en masse to, more or less, influence the neighbors who were growing coca to change, knowing that this was their opportunity to bring peace and prosperity to the region.

The cooperative began with 150 farmers in 2010. Through trial and error the co-op soon realized the major issues that the national and international markets were subject to and sought a better way. There are two giant companies that purchase most of the cacao in Colombia, Luker and Nacional de Chocolates. Cacao is treated as a commodity within the country and subject to national and international trends. There was little incentive for improving quality, as  prices were subpar. Guarda Bosques chose quality over quantity and sought out clients that appreciated the quality, a market known as Specialty Cacao.

Specialty Cacao requires a very different process from generic counterparts. It necessitates great care, from the soil all the way to the finished product. When the cacao for coca initiative began, highly productive cultivars of cacao were introduced as a cash crop ignoring the native species which produced less quantity. Because nature does not recognise fences and property lines, the cacao began to cross pollinate and create an incredible hybrid. A company called Cacao Hunters formed from a union between a Colombian and a Japanese woman named Mayumi Ogata, focuses on searching for specialty cacao strains. They traveled to the Sierra in 2015 to test the quality coming from the region and Mayumi, known as one of the world's premier cacao and chocolate tasters, immediately knew what she had come across. 

Cacao Hunters recognised the unique smooth flavor profile and subsequent white color palette of the beans and decided right then to support the cooperative. Through studying the genetics Cacao Hunters have gained a better understanding of its origins. The hybrids are around 40 percent native and climbing each year. Now that the native genetics are so highly valued the cooperative has begun favoring the local strain. This rare mixture has been identified as the reason for the smooth flavor profile that is so high in cacao butter, making for a truly creamy texture without any additives. 

Like attracts like and we, at the Universal Foundation for Holistic Design, resonated deeply with the structure of the cooperative and their farming practices. They use Agroforestry techniques to ensure the cacao is healthy while safeguarding the forests. Cacao is an understory plant and thus it can grow in a native forest under the canopy of taller trees without the need for decimating the local ecosystem. This is not the case in commercial cacao production. Plural growing systems are the natural and enduring solution for a regenerative model. A healthy ecosystem directly translates into the health of the cacao plants, which has yielded one of the highest quality cacaos we have ever come across.


Guarda Bosques was immediately drawn to The 80-20 System since it monetarily incentivises ecological practices and the creation of natural reserves.

On a personal level cacao can transform the physical body through its immense health benefits, as mentioned, as a superfood. Many indigenous American cultures understand cacao to be a great teacher plant. The Mayan royalty and priests have been using it in ceremonies for centuries. When one ingests a large dose on an empty stomach, and meets cacao with intention and attention, there is much to be learned from this heart centered teacher. On an interpersonal level it has transformed a region from violence and division into prosperity and cooperation. On a societal level, cacao is the plant that is leading the way for The 80-20 Pilot Project to transform the agricultural industry and remind people that we all have the power to co-create our world.

And last but not least, let's never forget if you add a little sweetener, you get CHOCOLATE!

To join Cacao, Guarda Bosques and the Universal Foundation for Holistic Design in redesigning societal systems for the benefit of all click here!