Published on 11/14/2023 07:15 AM
INPI (Brazilian National Institute of Industrial Property) published in the Industrial Property Gazette (RPI) on Tuesday, November 14, the recognition of Geographical Indication (GI), specifically Indication of Provenance (IP), for cocoa in almonds produced in an area that encompasses all 52 municipalities of Rondônia.
With this registration, INPI reaches a total of 118 Geographical Indications, comprising 84 Indications of Provenance (all national) and 34 Designations of Origin (25 national and 9 foreign).
According to the documentation submitted to INPI, historical records regarding the existence of cocoa in Rondônia date back to the mid-1790s, but commercial planting only began in 1970. It was at this moment that concerted efforts were made to increase cocoa production in Brazil, settle people in rural areas, and establish conservationist cultivation with characteristics similar to those of the forest. Thus, by 2003, Rondônia held the first position in primary cocoa production in almonds in the Western Amazon.
Documentary records also highlight two important marketing appeals related to Rondônia cocoa. The first, of an ecological nature, arises from the fact that cocoa farming requires the preservation of native forest to maintain the necessary shading for product cultivation. The second is the superior physicochemical quality of cocoa grown in the region, compared, for example, to West Africa, which is used as the global quality standard.
According to the documentation submitted to INPI, Rondônia cocoa has an unmistakable flavor and a uniquely high-quality fat for the production of various textured and flavored chocolate products.
The history of cocoa farming in Rondônia and the know-how of the producers are responsible for giving unique characteristics to the activity. Additionally, peculiar factors related to soil, microclimate, production methods, and organoleptic attributes make Rondônia cocoa in almonds a unique product, contributing to its renown and consumption among cocoa enthusiasts.