In the jungles of Peru there is a slow but significant change happening that has world-wide implications affecting us all and the Cocoa plant is at the root of it. Time.com posted an article today describing how many farmers in the agricultural based society have switched from growing coca leaf plants to growing cocoa or chocolate. The coca leaf is the first step in manufacturing cocaine, but with prosperous potential many farmers can now instead sell chocolate to support their families.

In the extremely poor and underdeveloped towns where farmers make a living there are few positive financial opportunities. But over the past few years cocoa farmers have begun more and more to focus on an international legal export of cocoa instead of cocaine much like Columbia has tried to do with coffee. Programs like these require local government and community involvement in order to develop. Hopefully they continue to be a growing prevention strategy of the future to help restore the negative impacts of the past.

Read the rest of the story here

-Erik