At a Glance

Location: Serranía de San Lucas, Colombia 

Impact Areas: Sustainable Agriculture 

People Supported:
Smallholder Farmers, Women 

NESsT Program: South America Accelerator

Joined NESsT Portfolio:
2025

Overview

Aprocasur is a producer-owned cooperative located in the Serranía de San Lucas, a remote region of northern Colombia long affected by conflict, illegal mining, and coca cultivation. Since 2004, the cooperative has worked with local families to build a different, more sustainable path though more stable, safer sources of income. One of the ways it does so is providing support to shift from growing illicit crops to organic cacao. Over the years, Aprocasur has worked with over 500 families, strengthening livelihoods and building a resilient local economy where economic opportunities are limited.

Aprocasur buys cacao directly from farmers at fair, above-market prices and connects them to national and international buyers. Yet its role goes beyond purchasing crops. The cooperative also provides seedlings, training, and farming inputs at subsidized costs – support that many small-scale producers would struggle to access on their own. Beginning in 2023, Aprocasur has started producing its own value-added products such as chocolate bars and cocoa liquor, creating new income streams and helping farmers earn more from what they grow.

By making cacao a viable, reliable livelihood, Aprocasur is helping to reduce dependence on illicit activities, strengthening economic inclusion in one of Colombia’s most vulnerable rural areas and advancing long-term peace in the region. At the same time, by growing high-quality, traceable cacao that meets international standards, the cooperative is positioning itself to expand into premium export markets. 

NESsT Investment

NESsT will support Aprocasur to strengthen and scale its community-led cocoa model by validating its business model and building operational resilience. This includes supporting the cooperative’s financial and liquidity management, improving sales tracking and customer feedback systems, and reducing dependency on a few buyers through accessing new clients.  

NESsT portfolio managers will also work closely with Aprocasur to build relationships with export buyers and mission-aligned partners, focusing on reaching new markets and securing higher income for the farming families it supports. Additionally, Aprocasur will explore blended-finance solutions that help farmers access the seedlings, inputs, and cash flow they need without falling into debt. 

To prepare for long-term growth, NESsT portfolio managers will work with Aprocasur to build a three-year strategic roadmap and reinforce senior leadership with a particular emphasis on supporting the empowerment of women within the organization. NESsT will support the development of traceability and quality systems to meet international standards and strengthen brand and consumer-facing products. Together, these efforts will help Aprocasur build a more resilient business model — one that can weather global price swings while improving the livelihoods of rural families.