Maximizing Opportunities in Coffee and Cacao in the Americas (MOCCA)

The Maximizing Opportunities in Coffee and Cacao in the Americas (MOCCA) project was a seven-year initiative funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) through the Food for Progress program. Implemented by TechnoServe and partners, MOCCA worked to support over 120,000 farmers across Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Ecuador, and Peru to overcome barriers to effectively rehabilitating and renovating their coffee and cacao trees.

Context

In Central America and the Andean region, the coffee and cacao sectors are vital to rural livelihoods and national economies. However, aging trees, the spread of plant diseases such as coffee leaf rust and monilia, and the increasing unpredictability of climate conditions have severely impacted productivity. Many smallholder farmers—who form the backbone of these sectors—faced declining yields and income, with limited capacity to invest in the rehabilitation and renovation of their farms.

At the same time, systemic barriers—including weak access to high-quality planting material, limited technical knowledge, scarce financing options, and volatile markets—discouraged long-term investment. These challenges threatened the sustainability of both livelihoods and export value chains.

Opportunity

MOCCA catalyzed a cycle of Renovation & Rehabilitation investments for long-term growth by training farmers, connecting them with access to quality inputs, affordable financing, and higher-value trading models that boosted their yields and improved their marketing outcomes, incomes, and livelihoods. In turn, these investments led to a more secure and sustainable supply of coffee and cacao for U.S., regional, and international markets. MOCCA used a systems-level approach in partnership with more than 40 market actors across the region.

As part of the implementation of the International Multilocation Variety Trial Program (ILMVT) led by World Coffee Research this unprecedented scientific effort evaluated 31 coffee varieties across 23 countries through a network of standardized trials that compared yield, disease resistance, agroclimatic adaptation, and cup quality.

In the countries where MOCCA operated the trials were essential in generating locally relevant data to support informed decision-making on varietal renewal.

Strategy

MOCCA delivered a range of interventions designed to address the systemic barriers to widespread R&R adoption:

• Delivered training on rehabilitation and renovation practices, among other key agronomic practices
• Strengthened nurseries and clonal gardens to increase access to high-quality genetic material
• Built market linkages by connecting farmers to higher-value buyers
• Supported trade associations to enhance service delivery
• Facilitated access to finance to enable R&R investments
• Promoted research and dissemination of improved practices
• Enhanced digital platforms to extend farmer outreach

In addition, MOCCA created demand for more than 47,000 metric tons of surplus soybean oil from U.S. farmers—demonstrating mutually beneficial trade and alignment with U.S. agricultural interests. The project’s varietal research also supports global industry needs by helping scale production while ensuring compliance with phytosanitary and food safety standards.

Long-term Sustainability and Market Systems work 

MOCCA promoted self-reliance by building the capacity of national coffee institutes and business associations to deliver farmer support services. These investments have laid the foundation for sustainable sector growth beyond the life of the project.

New linkages established between financial institutions, agribusinesses, and farmers have already generated 116 million dollars in agricultural loans and over 26,000 farmers with access to finance. These relationships, along with strengthened supply systems, are expected to persist and deliver continued value over time.

MOCCA also served as a catalyst for private-sector investment. Notably, JDE Peet’s $15.3 million investment in the Avanza Café initiative built directly on the foundation created by MOCCA—reinforcing the long-term viability of the sector.

We worked in collaboration with others
MOCCA worked with shared value-minded buyers who co-invested in training farmers and implemented strategies that allowed producers in their supply chains to obtain higher value when commercializing their coffee or cacao. Strategies included direct purchasing, rewarding quality with higher prices, facilitating certification, as well as facilitating more desirable financing terms and access to high-quality planting material. Additional private-sector partners that supported MOCCA activities in the region included: The J.M. Smucker Company, Jacobs Douwe Egberts (JDE), Peet’s Coffee, Keurig Dr Pepper, Nespresso, and McDonald’s.

Participatory Growth and Youth Engagement

A 2021 MOCCA study found that 50% of farmers receiving technical assistance said the support influenced their decision to stay in their communities. When asked what might further encourage them to remain, farmers cited needs for productivity support, access to loans, and improved market connections—core elements of MOCCA’s work.

The same study found that most migrants were between 24 and 27 years old. In response, MOCCA integrated youth into program activities, encouraging participation in training and income diversification efforts. These efforts helped youth envision a future in agriculture, supporting long-term sustainability of the coffee sector.

Results

Through partnerships with cooperatives, technical organizations, and research centers, MOCCA facilitated the establishment of trial sites under conditions representative of coffee-growing regions. The project supported over 1,500 nurseries and clonal gardens, helping them provide high-quality seedlings long term. By lowering the cost of plant DNA testing, MOCCA enabled nurseries to verify varietal accuracy—ensuring greater consistency and quality for farmers.

By working through both public and private sector actors—including national coffee and cacao institutes, financial institutions, research organizations, and leading industry players—MOCCA strengthened local systems to continue delivering value well beyond the life of the project.

Over its seven years of implementation, the project achieved measurable results:

• Reached more than 128,000 coffee and cacao farmers
• Integrated over 40,700 farmers into higher-value trading models
• Supported more than 1,500 nurseries and clonal gardens with genetic material
• Facilitated over $116  million in loans to more than 26,000 farmers
• Helped increase productivity by up to 30% on participating farms

Partners

MOCCA was implemented with support from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (Food for Progress), and in collaboration with private sector partners, including Peet’s Coffee and Smucker’s.