@masterthesis{MoncadaTorres2025, type = {Bachelor Thesis}, author = {Moncada Torres, Valentina Bernardita}, title = {Identifying Policy Opportunities for the Costa Rican Cocoa Market: A Comparative Analysis with the Dominican Republic}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:hbz:1383-opus4-22308}, school = {Hochschule Rhein-Waal}, pages = {68}, year = {2025}, abstract = {Cocoa is a crop native to Costa Rica that once thrived as one of the country's principal exports. Its decline began in the late 1970s following severe disease outbreaks and has been further affected by a lack of sustained institutional support. This thesis presents a comparative analysis of the cocoa sectors in Costa Rica and the Dominican Republic due to the latter's good positioning in the global cocoa market. It aims to identify policy opportunities that could support the revitalization of Costa Rican cocoa production. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with stakeholders across both countries and thematically analysed according to six key areas: general characteristics, exports and market access, labour conditions, public policy and framework, support framework, and growth potential. Findings suggest that the Dominican Republic's success is due to continued governmental prioritization and support, alongside the presence of strong producer associations that facilitate access to post-harvest infrastructure, international markets, and organic certification. In contrast, Costa Rica's sector remains fragmented, with limited coordination, restricted market access, and minimal governmental support. Nonetheless, recent increases in global cocoa prices and renewed institutional interest have created favourable conditions for reactivating and strengthening the sector. This study highlights the need for strengthened producer organization and culturally grounded support for Indigenous cocoa producers. The broader aim of the study is to enable producers to improve their quality of life through increased profitability.}, language = {en} }