Cocoa Farms in Bahia
Located in northeastern Brazil, the state of Bahia is known for its cultural history, Atlantic coastline, and remnants of the Atlantic Forest biome — one of the world’s most biodiverse and threatened ecosystems. In southern Bahia, cocoa cultivation has long been integrated into the forest landscape through traditional agroforestry systems known as cabruca, where cacao trees grow beneath a native forest canopy.
During my visit to organic cocoa farms in the region, I documented the full production process — from cultivation and harvesting to fermentation and drying. The work focused on capturing both the agricultural practices and the surrounding forest ecosystem, highlighting how cocoa production can coexist with biodiversity when managed responsibly.
The first farm that we visited was Fazenda Provisão, a 200-year-old working farm where organic cocoa is cultivated within the Atlantic Forest landscape. There, I documented not only the production process but also the historical and cultural context of cocoa farming in the region — offering insight into how land use, heritage, and sustainable agriculture intersect.
We also visited an organic cacao farm where our local guide Osvaldo was practicing permaculture. He was a very inspiring person to listen to with alot of knowledge about farming, nature and the cacao.
The resulting photography and video explore the relationship between agroforestry, ecosystem preservation, and small-scale production — approached with attention to detail, context, and long-term environmental perspective.
