Cocoa production (Theobroma cacao L.) represents a strategic economic and social component in various tropical regions of West Africa, Latin America, and Southeast Asia. In 2024, global production exceeded five million tons, with more than 60% concentrated in Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana, the main exporting countries (FAOSTAT, 2025). In Latin America, countries such as Brazil, Peru, Ecuador, and Colombia have managed to position themselves in international markets for fine-flavor cocoa, due to the distinctive attributes of their beans associated with more sustainable cultivation practices, the use of native varieties, and unique sensory profiles (International Cocoa Organization, 2023; Statista, 2025).

Theobroma cacao L. is an agricultural crop of great economic relevance at local, national, and global levels, driven by its use as a primary input in multiple industries, particularly the chocolate sector, which continues to grow, reaching an annual commercial value of several billion dollars (Bagnulo et al., 2023; Beg et al., 2017; Tennhardt et al., 2022). However, its production chain faces persistent environmental, social, and economic challenges, including deforestation, child labor, and the economic vulnerability of small-scale producers. These issues have generated increasing pressure to establish a more ethical and environmentally sustainable supply chain (Mithöfer et al., 2017; Lambin et al., 2018). Although certification mechanisms aimed at promoting responsible practices have been implemented, their capacity to induce structural transformations in the territories of origin remains limited [Ministerio de Desarrollo Agrario y Riego del Perú (MIDAGRI), 2024; Gaia Cacao, 2021].

Peru has established itself as one of the leading exporters of organic and high-quality cocoa, supported by the genetic diversity of its native varieties and the adoption of sustainable agricultural practices. During 2019–2023, cocoa cultivation ranked ninth in terms of contribution to the gross value of national agricultural production, with an estimated annual output of 141.8–166.7 thousand tons, equivalent to 3.3% of the agricultural Gross Domestic Product (GDP) [Ministerio de Desarrollo Agrario y Riego del Perú (MIDAGRI), 2024; Ministerio de Desarrollo Agrario y Riego (MIDAGRI), 2024]. This growth has been driven by favorable public policies, technical assistance programs, and greater access to international markets (Gaia Cacao, 2021). In 2023, the average export price of Peruvian cocoa reached USD 3.17 per kilogram, up 34% year on year, reflecting strong market demand for differentiated-quality products (AgroPerú, 2023).

Agricultural land suitability models applied to Peruvian territory, such as the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) and the Maximum Entropy (MaxEnt) model, have highlighted that the Amazonas region possesses favorable edaphoclimatic and topographic conditions for sustainable cocoa cultivation (Rojas-Briceño et al., 2022). In this region, cocoa production reached 5.501 thousand tons in 2023 (Instituto Nacional de Estadística e Informática (INEI), 2024), positioning it among the country’s emerging cocoa-producing regions. This sustained growth has been driven by agricultural promotion programs and by an increasing interest among producers in incorporating high-value crops as a strategy for income diversification. Nevertheless, significant structural limitations persist, including restricted access to specialized markets, deficiencies in infrastructure and postharvest processes, and weak coordination among value-chain actors (Hasan and Karim, 2022). These issues are exacerbated in remote rural areas, where the State’s limited presence hampers the implementation of effective policies for technical assistance, financing, and logistics for small producers (Grupo de Análisis para el Desarrollo (GRADE), 2023; Urteaga and Jesús, 2024; Martín et al., 2023). Moreover, the economic contribution of cocoa is not always clearly reflected in regional GDP, as a large proportion of production is transported and exported through other regions, thereby underestimating its real economic impact (Ministerio de Comercio Exterior y Turismo (MINCETUR), 2024).

The socioeconomic and environmental characterization of cocoa producers is essential for designing inclusive and sustainable development strategies. Moreover, it allows the identification of limitations and opportunities within production systems, as well as a better understanding of the interactions among economic, social, and ecological dimensions that influence the quality of life of cocoa-producing families (Fernández Jeri et al., 2022; Castillo et al., 2023). It also facilitates the formulation of policies aimed at reducing producers’ exposure to market volatility and dependence on single buyers’ risks, commonly associated with monocropping schemes on smallholder farms (Mithöfer et al., 2017).

Despite advances in promoting cocoa cultivation, there remains a limited understanding of the integral dynamics of the cocoa production system in territories inhabited by the Awajún communities (Somarriba and Harvey, 2002), an Amazonian Indigenous population whose social organization is structured around extended family units and traditional kinship systems. Historically, their subsistence has been centered on activities such as gathering, hunting, fishing, and small-scale horticulture, all developed in harmony with their natural environment (Miranda et al., 2024). In recent years, these communities have progressively engaged in cocoa production as a strategy for economic diversification. However, they face significant limitations in accessing technical assistance, particularly in integrated crop management, due to both geographic barriers and the State’s limited presence in remote areas (Carrión and Albert, 2022). The limited understanding of the integral dynamics of cocoa production systems highlights the need to develop participatory, multiscale diagnostics that serve as a foundation for formulating differentiated, culturally relevant, and territorially oriented public policies aimed at sustainability (Carrión and Albert, 2025). In this regard, such strategies should facilitate the valorization of local knowledge, cultural and ecological diversity, and the socioeconomic relationships that structure production systems.

In the Awajún communities of Imaza (Amazonas, Peru), cocoa cultivation has become a key livelihood strategy; however, the lack of technical assistance, limited infrastructure, weak market articulation, and minimal institutional presence constrain the social, economic, and environmental sustainability of their production systems. These limitations perpetuate territorial inequality and hinder the inclusion of Indigenous producers in sustainable value chains. It is hypothesized that the sustainability of cocoa production in the Awajún communities of Imaza is determined by the degree of access to institutional support, adoption of sustainable agricultural practices, and preservation of ancestral knowledge, which together influence economic performance, social organization, and environmental resilience. Therefore, the objective of this study was to identify sustainability indicators of cocoa production in six Awajún communities of Imaza (Amazonas, Peru) across economic, social, and environmental dimensions, emphasizing the role of ancestral knowledge and local perception of climate change. This research aims to generate scientific evidence to inform the formulation of intercultural, territorially focused policies that promote sustainable rural development and strengthen the resilience of Indigenous cocoa systems.

Consequently, the strategic role of traditional knowledge in the sustainable management of cocoa cultivation is recognized, as cocoa systems managed based on ancestral knowledge demonstrate greater resilience to the impacts of climate change and market fluctuations. Therefore, it is a priority that public policies and development projects recognize this diversity and adapt to the specific characteristics of each territory. However, conventional territorial approaches have tended to overlook social, organizational, environmental, and local perception factors, thereby limiting a comprehensive assessment of the balance between crop profitability and the conservation of ecosystem services that sustain these productive landscapes (Alexander, 2012).

Previous studies on cocoa sustainability have employed participatory and statistical approaches similar to ours. For example, Fernández Jeri et al. (2022) conducted a socioeconomic and environmental characterization of producers in Bagua, Peru, using structured surveys and multivariate analyses; Kouadio et al. (2023) in Côte d’Ivoire evaluated farmers’ satisfaction with input credit through regression analysis; and Somarriba and Harvey (2002) in Costa Rica analyzed cocoa agroforestry systems using biodiversity indicators and community perception. In line with these precedents, our study combines structured surveys and direct observation, integrating statistical analyses ANOVA, Principal Component Analysis (PCA), and Multiple Correspondence Analysis (MCA) to capture both quantitative differences among communities and the diversity of local perceptions of climate change. In this way, the study aimed to address the identified issue: Awajún communities face structural limitations that undermine the sustainability of cocoa production and require differentiated, intercultural policies. Consequently, the objective of this research was to identify sustainability indicators of cocoa production in Imaza (Amazonas, Peru), considering economic, social, and environmental dimensions, with an emphasis on the role of ancestral knowledge and community perception of climate change, thereby providing scientific evidence to guide the formulation of public policies and sustainable territorial development strategies.

The results of the multivariate analyses (MCA and PCA) confirmed that the sustainability of cocoa production in the Awajún communities is shaped by the interaction of social, institutional, and environmental dimensions. These patterns reveal that social capital, irrigation infrastructure, and financial inclusion are interdependent drivers of productivity and resilience, supporting the multidimensional approach adopted in this study.

The cocoa production systems encompass diverse production models, ranging from traditional agroforestry schemes with tree cover to intensive monocultures without shade, characterized by the predominance of hybrid varieties and low plant diversity. In particular, agroecosystems that incorporate fruit species contribute to biodiversity conservation and the supply of food and products for self-consumption or local marketing, thereby strengthening the household economy of producers (R Core Team, 2025). Likewise, farmers’ perceived satisfaction is closely associated with the performance of their cooperatives, influenced by cognitive and social factors as well as by the demographic and socioeconomic characteristics of their members (Higuchi et al., 2020).

The findings of this study reveal significant territorial inequalities among the Awajún cocoa-producing communities of the Imaza district. Communities such as Pakuy and Shushunga, located in relatively accessible areas, do not receive technical or financial assistance and therefore exhibit a condition of structural isolation. This situation aligns with studies showing that isolated Amazonian communities often lack road infrastructure, electrification, and connectivity key factors for integration into regional or global markets (Bebbington et al., 2018). The situation faced by the Pakuy and Shushunga communities, where no public or private institution provides technical or financial assistance, could limit cocoa productivity. According to previous research, the lack of, or limited access to, technical and financial services in native communities represents a major constraint on innovation and the development of productive capacities, hindering economic inclusion and perpetuating inequality and poverty (Monroy and Hernández, 2008).

The results of the correspondence analysis of sociocultural aspects reflect how these factors influence the social and productive structure of native cocoa-producing communities. The predominance of male producers, landowners, and individuals with secondary education in the communities of Shushug and Pakuy suggests a more consolidated organizational structure. The presence of the Apu role in these communities appears to be associated with greater participation in communal decision-making processes and better access to productive resources. These are important factors, as social capital, expressed through community leadership, positively influences the adoption of agricultural technologies and enhances communities’ resilience to market and climate change challenges (Gul et al., 2023).

When interpreted jointly, the MCA and PCA results suggest that institutional isolation and low educational levels limit the capacity of communities to take advantage of favorable agroecological conditions. Conversely, those with higher social capital and improved irrigation systems show stronger economic performance. This multivariate integration highlights that sustainability gaps in the Awajún cocoa systems are simultaneously social, technical, and territorial.

In the communities of Yangunga and Shushui, where married women predominate working in the fields and having children who do not attend school regularly this pattern suggests that women in these areas are confined to domestic and reproductive roles, with minimal participation in productive activities. This finding is consistent with studies on Indigenous family farming in Latin America (Sulandjari et al., 2023). Furthermore, the limited access to education for children could increase the need to prioritize child labor as a subsistence strategy, a common situation in rural contexts with high poverty levels in Peru (Chachi Montes et al., 2017). The community of Shushug, associated with low educational levels and a lack of land ownership, is at a disadvantage regarding access to productive resources and human capital, as its low level of education limits opportunities for technical capacity building and integration with agricultural initiatives, as observed in rural areas with limited access to training opportunities (Albertus et al., 2020). Finally, the situation in the Uyunsa community is more balanced, as both child labor and occasional participation by wives in agricultural tasks are present, but children regularly attend school. This indicates that the community maintains its traditional practices while simultaneously seeking integration into the formal education systems, which could open opportunities to improve family living conditions in the medium term and facilitate the transition toward sustainable agriculture (Thom et al., 2024; Maini et al., 2021).

The situation of the Pakuy and Shushunga communities, where no public or private institution provides technical or financial assistance, could limit cocoa productivity. According to previous studies, the lack of or limited access to technical and financial services in native communities represents a major constraint to innovation and the development of productive capacities, hindering economic inclusion and perpetuating inequality and poverty within these communities (Kusumastuti et al., 2022; Savira et al., 2025). In the case of Shushug, although it has access to credit, it does not receive technical assistance, which could result in inefficient management of the capital obtained. Access to credit without adequate technical support does not ensure sustained improvements in agricultural production (Kehinde and Ogundeji, 2022).

On the other hand, the communities of Yangunga and Uyunsa have access to health services and vaccination programs; however, their limited access to productive resources may be negatively affecting their living conditions. This is a matter of concern, as the lack of an integrated approach to basic productive, educational, and health services hinders the sustainable development of these communities (Fernández Jeri et al., 2022). The Shushui community, although receiving economic incentives, lacks access to health services and both technical and financial assistance, reflecting fragmented state intervention and weak territorial coordination among native communities. This situation is perceived as a weakness in programs aimed at implementing sustainable practices to improve cocoa production and the living conditions of these Indigenous peoples, as institutional fragmentation limits the effectiveness of such programs (Salazar et al., 2023; Guest et al., 2023).

The adoption of adaptive agricultural practices, such as crop diversification and the implementation of agroforestry systems, makes cocoa farms more resilient, enabling native communities to cope with changing climatic conditions without compromising agricultural productivity (Ariza-Salamanca et al., 2023). These systems help mitigate the impacts of climate change, particularly in response to rainfall variability and rising temperatures (Pokorny et al., 2021). At the agronomic level, it has been reported that the implementation of good agricultural practices, efficient input use, and participation in at least three annual technical assistance sessions positively influence production efficiency (p < 0.10) (Higuchi et al., 2022). Furthermore, studies have shown that cocoa agroforestry systems can achieve greater economic profitability when they integrate environmental services such as carbon sequestration, reinforcing their viability as a sustainable development strategy in Amazonian territories (Goñas et al., 2024). From a comprehensive perspective, the sustainability of the cocoa production systems is determined by a multifactorial interaction involving productivity, edaphoclimatic conditions, market dynamics, and the socioeconomic wellbeing of producers.

The communities of Shushug and Uyunsa clearly recognize that climate change is driving increased pest incidence. However, irrigation practices such as flood irrigation, used in Shushug, may exacerbate the problem, as this type of irrigation promotes excessive humidity that favors the proliferation of insect vectors and pathogens (Goñas et al., 2024). On the other hand, in Uyunsa, the presence of Amburana cearensis, a native tree used as shade in cocoa systems, represents whether consciously or not a form of adaptive strategy to climate change, since these trees provide multiple ecosystem services, including soil protection and climate regulation (Kaba et al., 2024; Tham-Agyekum et al., 2023). The Shushunga community perceives that climate change is only occasionally responsible for the spread of diseases. This is a common perspective among native communities, in which climatic variations are often perceived as natural phenomena rather than as part of a broader, more complex problem such as climate change (Varah and Varah, 2022). In contrast, the Pakuy community has more favorable cultivation conditions, including access to year-round drip irrigation. However, it is aware that the increase in pests and diseases is associated with climate change. This awareness may be due to greater understanding and exposure to information on the issue, as documented in studies conducted in more technologically advanced cocoa systems (Lamichhane et al., 2022).

The Shushui community, which lacks irrigation water, associates climate change with increased cocoa disease. The fact that avocado trees are used for shade indicates that tree selection is based on productive use rather than conservation; this mindset may be linked to limited knowledge of climate change mitigation measures (Graefe et al., 2017). The absence of shade trees and the nonuse of organic fertilizers in the Yangunga and Shushui communities suggest production systems with low technical intervention. Nevertheless, good postharvest practices, such as burying crop residues, were found to reduce the incidence of fruit diseases. This highlights the importance of field phytosanitary hygiene as a strategy to minimize pathogen presence in cocoa systems (Aguilar and Lima, 2018). In contrast, in Shushug and Pakuy, despite organic agriculture, residue burning and limited tree cover were observed to contribute to the loss of organic matter and to create microclimatic conditions that favor the spread of fungal spores (Arévalo-Gardini et al., 2020). This may explain the presence of some infected pods. Regarding the Uyunsa and Shushunga communities, they are in an intermediate situation, with moderate tree cover and occasional use of organic fertilizers. Although these practices provide certain benefits to both the crop and the ecosystem, evidence shows that such agroecological practices are still insufficient, since infected pods were occasionally found. According to various studies, agroforestry systems that combine shade trees with proper soil and residue management reduce pest and disease incidence, enhance crop resilience under unfavorable climatic conditions, and can increase yields by 5 to 15% (Arévalo-Gardini et al., 2020; Fahad et al., 2022).

On the other hand, cocoa production generates significant organic waste, mainly pod husks and other processing by-products, which, if not properly managed, can cause negative environmental impacts. The adoption of sustainable practices such as composting, pellet production, or the application of biochar to the soil helps mitigate these impacts while improving soil physicochemical properties and promoting agroecological management of the production system, thereby generating direct benefits for producer communities (Izurieta-Castelo et al., 2025). The differences observed among communities in variables such as market access (travel time to the nearest town), income from additional work, and harvest frequency are key factors for the sustainability of cocoa agroforestry systems. Communities with better geographic access, more harvests per year, and additional sources of income will be more competitive and sustainable (Cerda et al., 2014; Gama-Rodrigues et al., 2021).

The differentiated access to technical assistance, financial services, and infrastructure observed among the Awajún communities clearly indicates that sustainability gaps are not only agronomic but also institutional. Therefore, the results of this study provide critical evidence for designing public policies that strengthen territorial governance and technology transfer in Indigenous areas. It is necessary to promote decentralized technical assistance programs that adapt modern agrotechnological innovations such as precision irrigation, soil fertility monitoring, and digital traceability to the cultural and ecological contexts of native communities. These programs should be developed through intercultural collaboration, valuing ancestral knowledge as a complementary source of innovation. Furthermore, establishing local innovation platforms that connect universities, producer associations, and public agencies could accelerate the cocreation and transfer of adaptive technologies, reducing reliance on external intermediaries. Strengthening the articulation between research institutions, regional governments, and Indigenous organizations would also facilitate continuous training, inclusive financial mechanisms, and gender equity in cocoa value chains. Such actions would translate the findings of this research into concrete policy instruments that enhance resilience, productivity, and environmental stewardship in the Peruvian Amazon, aligning with national objectives for climate adaptation and sustainable rural development. Similar multidimensional patterns have been reported in West African and Southeast Asian cocoa systems, where social inclusion, credit access, and environmental awareness jointly determine productivity and sustainability.

The ancestral knowledge of the Awajún communities plays a fundamental role in the sustainability of cocoa production systems. This knowledge, transmitted across generations, guides the selection of shade species such as Amburana cearensis and Cedrela odorata, soil management, and natural pest control through non chemical practices. These actions, rooted in environmental observation and in the Awajún worldview of harmony between forest and crop, constitute local adaptation mechanisms to climate change. Previous studies have shown that agricultural systems managed under traditional knowledge tend to exhibit greater ecological and social resilience, particularly in Amazonian contexts where biodiversity underpins family livelihoods. Recognizing and strengthening this knowledge enables the integration of modern science with Indigenous worldviews, fostering production models that are more sustainable, culturally relevant, and adaptive to climate variability (Varah and Varah, 2022).

The study achieved its objective of identifying sustainability indicators for cocoa production in Imaza (Amazonas, Peru), considering economic, social, and environmental dimensions, with an emphasis on ancestral knowledge and perceptions of climate change. Statistical analyses (ANOVA, PCA, and MCA) revealed that the sustainability of the cocoa production system is strongly influenced by territorial, socioeconomic, and governance factors, which create significant disparities among Awajún communities.

Communities with access to modern irrigation systems, technical assistance, and higher levels of education showed better indicators of economic and environmental sustainability. In contrast, the more isolated ones exhibited lower productivity and reduced adaptive capacity to climatic variability. Likewise, traditional practices such as the use of shade trees (Amburana cearensis, Cedrela odorata) and residue management contributed positively to agroecosystem resilience, reinforcing the importance of local knowledge as a key component of sustainability.

These findings confirm that cocoa sustainability in Indigenous territories depends not only on productive variables but also on the interaction between social capital, ancestral knowledge, and access to institutional services. Therefore, it is recommended to design differentiated, intercultural public policies that integrate adaptive technical assistance with the valorization of traditional knowledge, promote the active participation of Awajún communities in the cocoa value chain, and strengthen territorial governance toward sustainable rural development.

Methodologically, this study demonstrates the usefulness of integrating PCA and MCA within an intercultural sustainability framework, combining quantitative and qualitative dimensions to inform evidence-based policy design for Indigenous territories.