CHOCOLATE: THE DELICIOUS TASTE OF PEACE

Written by Anna Guðmundsdóttir
Throughout the 20th century and so far in the 21st century, the people of Colombia have suffered internal conflicts, originally initiated by leftist groups fighting against the government for social justice, intensified from the 1960s with the armed conflict between government forces, leftist guerrilla groups and right-wing paramilitaries, and in the mid-1970s the conflicts became even more complex and aggressive with the rapid growth of illegal drug production and export and the consequent wars between drug cartels that later became mixed with political struggles within the country. The peak of the conflicts was reached in the 1990s and early 2000s, with kidnappings, terrorist attacks and horrific internal wars, which made the population hostage to a state of internal warfare in which no one was safe. Over the decades, the government has made several attempts to reach peace between the warring parties. Finally, in November 2016, the government at the time headed by president Juan Manuel Santos, and the FARC guerrillas signed a peace agreement that the Colombian congress approved. The achievement was such that president Santos was subsequently awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.
AS PART OF THE PEACE AGREEMENT, THE GOVERNMENT HAS UNDERTAKEN SEVERAL INITIATIVES TO SUPPORT FARMERS AND FAMILIES IN THE AREAS MOST AFFECTED BY THE ARMED CONFLICT.

One of these is to help farmers switch from coca cultivation to cocoa, the official peace crop. Because Colombia offers perfect growing conditions for cocoa, this crop
was a largely untapped economic opportunity from an international trade
perspective.

Although the wounds of armed conflict will take generations to heal, when visiting the countryside it appears that the majority of the population is willing to put aside the tragedies of the past for the chance of a peaceful life for themselves and their families. This is reflected, for example, in the colorful graffiti in the villages and towns, highlighting the word “peace”. It was also evident when we visited the hard- working cocoa farmers who had proudly switched from coca to cocoa production,
even though it meant more work for them and their families to earn a living.

FOR ME, AS AN OUTSIDER, THE IMPORTANCE OF THE COCOA BEAN IN THE PROCESS OF RECOVERY FROM THE ARMED CONFLICT AND DRUG WARS MAKES EVERY BITE OF CHOCOLATE FROM THE AREA EVEN MORE DELICIOUS.