Marcelo Darío Godoy Barillas

Universidad del Valle de Guatemala (UVG)

Director of the Cocoa production and marketing Certification

             Research Assistant

I am an Agroindustrial Engineer, graduated from Universidad Autonoma Chapingo. I have focused my research on agri-food chains, specifically on the sustainable development of the Cocoa Agro Chain of Guatemala. During my professional career, I led the development of the Guatemala 2024 Cocoa Supplier Catalog, in collaboration with different producer associations, private sector, academia and international cooperation representatives, where I gained experience in physical and sensory analysis of cocoa, technical traceability and supplier control.

My focus on agricultural food chains resulted in the mapping of actors of the Cocoa Agro-chain of Guatemala to update the National Agro-chain Strategy (2016-2025), aiming to identify the strengths, opportunities, weaknesses and threats of the sector, as well as the strategic actors in each link of the value chain.  I am also part of the coordination of the Guatemalan Cocoa Quality Promotion Team, through which I support the development of knowledge, skills and infrastructure for cocoa quality management.

I am also a professional fine-aroma cocoa and chocolate taster, certified by the International Institute of Cacao and Chocolate Tasting (IICCT) at Level 1.

I am an engineer by profession and a chocolatier at heart.