M. Libânio Agrícola | Valrhona Asia

Brazil

Gandu, Bahia
13°44’36.1”S
39°29’24.8”W

M. Libânio Agrícola a company founded in 1922 by Manoel Libânio da Silva Filho, owns eight plantations spanning a total of 2,298 hectares. M. Libânio is driven by a philosophy that promotes harmony between people, soils, and plants so that all can live together in a sustainable environment. The company is located in one of the richest ecosystems in the world, the Mata Atlantica, an area which has been named a Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO.

M. Libânio protects forests: Old growth forests represent 47% of the land available on our Brazilian partner's estate, 27% more than required under the country's forest law.

M. Libânio’s employees use the “Cabruca” system, which involves allowing taller trees, such as fruit trees endemic to the Mata Atlantica, to grow above smaller varieties such as cacaos. Recently, M. Libânio has developed a modern agroforestry system which grows cocoa under the shade cast by rubber trees, generating a secondary income through selling latex. Today, the plantation is Rainforest Alliance certified.

Our relationship with M. Libânio began in the early 2000s, becoming even closer thanks to the signature of a long-term partnership agreement in 2013, renewed for 10 years in 2020. Today, the whole property is Rainforest Alliance certified. M. Libânio's focus on producing the highest quality cocoa, coupled with its environmental values and technological innovation makes them a natural partner for us.

2013 Partnership signature

Renewed in 2020 for 10 years

Exclusive right to the cocoa

from the Paineiras, Ladeira Grande, Petrolina Nova, Italia Limeira and São José plantations

168 employees

78 of whom live with their families on the plantations and have free access to drinking water and electricity!

Our social and environmental actions together

2013 / 2014

Financing of technical equipment, including solar drying beds and bean sorting machines

2015

Renovation of housing for employees and their families

2016 / 2017

Financing of a new training center

2018

Investments to support production: purchase of a tractor, trailer and shredder for plantation maintenance

2019

Support for the purchase of fertilizer

2020

Support for the maintenance of non-essential activities (including preventive medicine, maintaining employee homes and machine maintenance)

2021 and 2022

Support for the purchase of fertilizer.

2022

Taking inventory of the forest and calculating the domain’s carbon storage.
Identifying more than 165 plant species, 8 of which are considered threatened or almost threatened

The impact

72 houses

renovated for employees' families

1 new training center

135 training sessions

carried out by M. Libânio on topics including health, workplace safety and environmental conservation

It’s always a magnificent moment when you arrive at the M. Libânio plantations in the heart of the Mata Atlantica.
The spirit of M. Libânio is there to see throughout the ecosystem, in everything from the professionalism of the plantations’ management to the respect for people and, first and foremost, the care for the environment.

Cédric Robin
Valrhona's cocoa sourcer

Find M. LIBÂNIO AGRÍCOLA cocoa in

Double Fermentation

Itakuja 55%

Itakuja 55% pure origin* Brazil, a chocolate infused with passion fruit pulp, born in the heart of Brazilian plantations, with cocoa beans from the South of Bahia.

Single Origin

Macaé 62% Pure Brazil*

Macaé, Single Origin* Brazil, a Valrhona fruity dark chocolate Grand Cru with a subtle taste of roasted nuts and black tea, made from *cocoa beans from southern Bahia.