This research project explores how strategic foresight can empower post-conflict smallholder cacao farmers in Colombia to co-create a resilient and sustainable future. Rooted in the country’s complex socio-political history and informed by Colombia’s 2016 peace accords, the study examines the systemic challenges faced by cacao-producing communities, including barriers for a sustainable economic income, cacao regions’ recognition, informal market structures, and barriers to fair trade. Using a futures-informed design approach within design thinking’s Double Diamond framework, the project engaged smallholder cacao farmers through interviews, value chain observations, and a co-creation workshop. This collaboration led to the articulation of two preferred future scenarios, one centered on sustainable and regenerative cacao farming and the other on agritourism.

The project culminated in the development of a Flourishing Business Model and a Strategic Transition Roadmap. These tools aim to support smallholder cacao communities in achieving sustainable income, environmental regeneration, and socio-economic empowerment. The model blends sustainability and tourism and was validated with farmers from multiple cacao regions. A wind-tunneling exercise was used to test the model’s resilience against future scenarios. Findings highlight that a strategy grounded in sustainability is the most adaptable and impactful, while agritourism provides opportunities to mitigate labor shortages and diversify income. The research demonstrates how co-design, and foresight can contribute to peacebuilding and rural development by enabling communities to shape their own futures.