Gold Mining Threatens Indigenous Cacao Cooperatives in Ecuador

In Tena, Ecuador, the indigenous cooperative Asociación Kallari, founded in 2003 with 800 members and now over 1,200 small farmers, faces threats from legal and illegal gold mining operations. Mining activities, particularly mercury use, severely impact water quality, endangering the cooperative's organic cacao and coffee production. Gersón Andi, a member of the management team, describes himself as a lifelong participant in the organization. The cooperative processes its products in central facilities in Tena, a booming town of about 30,000 inhabitants, and aims to market cacao, coffee, guayusa, and nuts fairly and sustainably.