Colombia’s Chocolate Cordillera expands scheme supporting women cocoa farmers

Colombian-based sustainable chocolate company, Chocolate Cordillera, has expanded its boundary-pushing programme supporting women cocoa farmers in its native region, writes Neill Barston.

The business has built a strong reputation with Latin America for its artisan chocolate with a strong emphasis on sustainable sourcing, and has drawn attention at major shows including Sweets & Snacks Expo with its latest confectionery ranges.

As part of parent business, Compañía Nacional de Chocolates (Grupo Nutresa), the company’s key empowerment initiative, known as Atenea: Women Who Transcend, in Córdoba, Colombia, is aiming to assist 120 female farmers with access to finance, entrepreneurial skills, as well as training in cocoa processing.

Notably, as the business explained, the country has been recognised as a pioneer in gender inclusivity, and Cordillera’s Atenea program has been supporting female cocoa farmers since 2023 with training in cocoa processing, finance, and leadership.

Its track-record on engagement with communities has already been noted on a global level, as In 2021, the brand earned global recognition from the UN One Planet platform for its leadership in sustainable cacao practices.

The lates cohort of 120 women will be assisted as part of an alliance being delivered by the  Colombia’s SENA and the Government of Córdoba.

“In Córdoba, we’ve discovered extraordinary women with natural leadership and a passion for agriculture,” said Alejandro Gil Aguirre, Director of Agricultural Purchasing and Development at Compañía Nacional de Chocolates. “Empowering them is a strategic investment in the future of Colombia’s cacao industry.”

The 2025 Atenea curriculum is designed to elevate rural women from farm laborers to agribusiness leaders. Four core modules offer practical tools and knowledge, including entrepreneurship in chocolate and cacao processing, financial education for rural women, leadership and women’s empowermen, and sustainable agronomic management of cacao.

The program has already inspired transformation and a shift toward entrepreneurship. The first cohort of 101 women in Antioquia launched 11 new businesses in less than a year—from artisanal baked goods to premium hot chocolate.

Natalie Quintero Zuluaga, Global B2B Marketing Director at Cordillera, commented: “When a rural woman thrives, an entire community is uplifted. Atenea isn’t just training—it’s a catalyst for generational change.”