As part of the RestaurAmazônia Project, one of six initiatives currently supported by the JBS Fund for the Amazon, experts evaluated 350 samples from around the world, with the best 50 chosen for the grand finale to be held in Paris. Now one of them, cocoa farmer João Evangelista, has placed among the finalists in the world’s largest awards cocoa beans competition – International Cocoa Awards.

Evangelista, from the municipality of Novo Repartition in the State of Pará, took part in the RestaurAmazônia project, an initiative of the Solidarity Foundation, with the support of the JBS Fund for the Amazon that aims to promote the restoration of agroforestry systems (SAFs), using cocoa as the main species for creating income.

Commenting on the project, Joanita Maestri Karoleski, president of the JBS Fund for the Amazon, noted: “The RestaurAmazônia initiative shows that it is possible for environmental conservation and socioeconomic development to co-exist. Mr. João Evangelista’s work serves as testimony to the progress made in rejuvenating deforested areas in agroforestry systems, thus contributing to the growth of family farmers while taking back areas of the Amazon Forest.”