Centro para el Desarrollo Agropecuario y Forestal (CEDAF)

What Centro para el Desarrollo Agropecuario y Forestal (CEDAF) does

CEDAF (Centro para el Desarrollo Agropecuario y Forestal) is a Dominican Republic non-profit founded in 1987 and headquartered in Santo Domingo, operating with approximately 33 employees. Its functional mandate is agricultural and forestry development, with end beneficiaries primarily being smallholder farmers, agrifood value-chain actors, and forestry stakeholders across the Dominican Republic. The organization's core programmatic assets include the SERV 2.0 traceability system, the Escuelas de Campo para Agricultores (ECA) farmer field-school methodology, and a newly launched AgroTech innovation strategy intended to reposition CEDAF around technology-enabled agrifood and forestry development.

CEDAF does not operate a commercial revenue model. Its funding base is composed of Dominican government appropriations and grants from international donor agencies, augmented by Green Climate Fund (GCF) accreditation obtained in 2023, which opens access to multilateral climate finance for agrifood and forestry programs. Programmatic delivery combines on-the-ground extension via the ECA methodology with the SERV 2.0 traceability platform and the new AgroTech product surface, allowing CEDAF to act as a coordinator between policy makers, donors, and producer networks rather than as a fee-for-service vendor.

In 2025 the organization underwent a governance and leadership refresh, with a new board constituted in May 2025 and a new executive director appointed in August 2025, immediately preceding the launch of the AgroTech innovation strategy in late 2025/early 2026. This sequence signals a strategic reset rather than steady-state growth, with the GCF-accredited institutional platform serving as the foundation for the next phase of program expansion.

Name

Centro para el Desarrollo Agropecuario y Forestal (CEDAF)

Legal name

Centro para el Desarrollo Agropecuario y Forestal, Inc.

Website

https://cedaf.org.do

Company type

Private

Founded year

1987

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

CEDAF is a Santo Domingo-based Dominican non-profit founded in 1987 that drives agricultural and forestry development for smallholder farmers and value-chain actors, funded by government and international donors and accredited to the Green Climate Fund.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Agricultural Development Services

NAICS

Support Activities for Crop Production (11511), Support Activities for Agriculture and Forestry (115)

SIC

Agricultural Services (700)

akta.pro primary industry

Carbon, Sustainability & Farm Certification Support (Agro-Environmental Advisory) (AFACABAL)

Keywords

• Agricultural capacity building
• Farmer training programs
• Agricultural technology transfer
• Climate adaptation services
• Agricultural extension services

Headquarters

HQ city

Santo Domingo

HQ country

Dominican Republic

HQ region

Latin America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Government Funding: CEDAF receives funding from the Dominican government through the Ministry of Agriculture, implementing public programs and policies for agricultural development. The organization also receives funds from Law 122-05 on Non-Profit Associations (ASFL) to conduct training and capacity building activities.
2. International Development Funding: CEDAF implements projects funded by international organizations and foreign governments including Canada (through CFLI/Fondo Canadá para Iniciativas Locales), United States (USDA, IESC/TraSa), Japan (JICA), Germany (GIZ), and various UN agencies for climate adaptation, biodiversity, and agricultural development initiatives.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

CEDAF is a non-profit organization that delivers agricultural and forestry development services in the Dominican Republic, including farmer training through Field Schools (ECA), technology transfer, capacity building for agricultural technicians, traceability and food safety systems, and project implementation funded by government and international donors. Its flagship initiative, the AgroTech Strategy, integrates producers, researchers, and key sector actors to improve productivity, quality, and sustainability through modern technologies (sensors, drones, smart irrigation, AI). It also runs sector-specific programs in apiculture, aquaculture, and ecosystem-based climate adaptation.

Product overview

CEDAF is a non-profit organization that operates as a unified service platform offering agricultural innovation, training, and technical assistance programs. The core offerings include the AgroTech agricultural innovation strategy, the SERV 2.0 traceability system, the Escuela de Campo para Agricultores (ECA) training methodology, and sector-specific programs for apiculture, aquaculture, and ecosystem adaptation. The organization also produces technical publications and guides. These services work together to support sustainable agricultural and forestry development in the Dominican Republic through capacity building, technology transfer, and policy support.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• AgroTech: Agricultural Technology Innovation Strategy - CEDAF's comprehensive plan designed to drive growth and competitiveness through innovation and technology in the agricultural sector, integrating producers, researchers, businessmen and other key actors.

Products and services

• Sistema de Trazabilidad SERV 2.0 (Agri-food Traceability System) An agri-food traceability system that enables tracking of agricultural products through the production and distribution chain, ensuring food safety and compliance with international standards. It is intended for Dominican agricultural exporters, producers, and regulatory bodies seeking compliance with FSMA and SPS requirements.
• Escuela de Campo para Agricultores (ECA) - Farmer Field School Participatory agricultural extension methodology developed by FAO that combines farmer experience with professional knowledge to generate new understanding, strengthening capabilities of both farmers and technicians for improved agricultural productivity. Delivered to smallholder farmers, producer associations, and government extension agents across the Dominican Republic.
• AgroTech - Estrategia de Innovación Agropecuaria Comprehensive agricultural innovation strategy integrating producers, researchers, and key sector actors, focusing on research, technology transfer, training, and technical assistance to improve productivity, quality, and sustainability through technologies including sensors, drones, management software, and smart irrigation systems. Targeted at Dominican agricultural producers, researchers, and agribusinesses.
• Technical Publications (Guías técnicas, Boletines, Memorias) Digital and printed publications including technical guides, CEDAF bulletins, annual reports, event proceedings, and multimedia content focused on agricultural and forestry development. Targeted at researchers, technicians, producers, and students in the agricultural sector.
• Apiculture Sector Development Program Comprehensive program for strengthening and creating capacities in the apiculture sector, including production, safety, commercialization, and regulation phases. Implements honey extraction facilities and provides training on modern beekeeping practices. Targeted at Dominican beekeepers and apiary cooperatives, with funding from MICM and the Canadian Embassy.
• AbE-CBC Ecosystem Adaptation Project Project designed to increase resilience of ecosystems and communities to climate change through Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA) in key connected areas of the Caribbean Biological Corridor (CBC). Targets Cuba and Haiti with funding from the Caribbean Biodiversity Fund.
• Tilapia Aquaculture Project - La Pascuala Intensive tilapia production project in La Pascuala, Samaná, featuring geomembrane ponds and RAS (Recirculating Aquaculture System) technology. Provides training, equipment, and infrastructure to local women's associations including ASOMUFPA, generating 4,500+ pounds monthly fish output and RD$4 million revenue per production cycle.
• Capacity Building Programs (Programas de Capacitación) Human resource development programs for the agricultural and forestry sector, including extension methodology training, organic agriculture inputs courses, and field school facilitation. Covers all eight regional agricultural directions nationwide and serves agricultural technicians, producers, and extension agents.

Quantifiable outcome

• Trained 888 technicians and producers in 2023, with 87.5% coverage of agricultural regions
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Ministerio de Agricultura (Ministry of Agriculture)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing strategic partnership for agricultural development in the Dominican Republic. CEDAF coordinates with the Ministry's 8 Regional Agricultural Directorates and Department of Agricultural Extension and Training (DECA) to implement capacity building programs, Field Schools, and technology transfer initiatives nationwide.
• IESC (International Executive Service Corps) / TraSa ProjectcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCEDAF signed agreement with IESC's Trade Safe (TraSa) project, funded by USDA, to develop capacities of agricultural producers and exporting companies to comply with national and international sanitary and phytosanitary standards. Implements FSMA protocols and traceability systems.
• MICM (Ministerio de Industria, Comercio y Mypimes)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with MICM for implementation of apiary sector strengthening project, including honey extraction facilities and commercialization support. MICM provides funding and policy support for agricultural export development.
• IICA (Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInter-American agricultural cooperation agency represented by Gabriela Quiroga Gilardoni, participating in CEDAF's AgroTech strategy presentation and supporting agricultural innovation initiatives in the region.
• FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCEDAF utilizes FAO-developed Field School (ECA) methodology for agricultural extension and technology transfer. The organization adapts and implements this horizontal learning approach combining farmer experience with professional knowledge.
• GIZ (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGerman development agency participating in CEDAF activities including AgroTech strategy presentation and climate action initiatives.
• UN Environment / UNDPmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUnited Nations environment agencies supporting CEDAF projects including CBIT (Capacity Building for Transparency) for climate reporting and biodiversity conservation initiatives aligned with Sustainable Development Goals.
• CNCCMDL (Consejo Nacional para el Cambio Climático)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational council for climate change participates in CEDAF initiatives including AgroTech strategy presentation and climate adaptation projects, supporting integration of climate-smart agriculture in national planning.
• IDIAF (Instituto Dominicano de Investigaciones Agropecuarias y Forestales)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDominican agricultural research institute collaborating with CEDAF on field training activities, including use of experimental fruit stations for mango field school training.
• UASD (Universidad Autónoma de Santo Domingo)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLargest public university in the Dominican Republic, listed as an ally in CEDAF's partner ecosystem for academic collaboration and knowledge sharing.
• PUCMM (Pontificia Universidad Católica Madre y Maestra)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLeading private university in the Dominican Republic, part of CEDAF's alliance network for academic partnerships and research collaboration.
• The Nature ConservancyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational environmental organization listed as an ally, supporting CEDAF's conservation and natural resource management initiatives.
• Global G.A.P.minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal partnership for good agricultural practices, listed as an ally supporting CEDAF's work in agricultural certification and quality standards.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Emerging players

• EARTH University: Costa Rica-based private agricultural university focused on tropical agriculture and rural community development. An emerging player with overlapping capacity-building and agricultural education focus, though operating primarily through formal degree programs rather than field-school extension.

Direct peers

• Heifer International: International NGO that works with smallholder farmers on livestock, sustainable agriculture, and value-chain development. Shares CEDAF's NGO model, donor-funded structure, and focus on capacity building for agricultural producers in developing economies.
• TechnoServe: International non-profit that promotes business-based solutions for agricultural development and smallholder inclusion. Comparable to CEDAF in operating across multiple agricultural value chains with donor-funded programs and producer training.
• ACDI/VOCA: International development organization focused on agricultural productivity, food security, and farmer livelihoods. Comparable to CEDAF through shared USDA/Foreign Assistance funding relationships, producer training programs, and value-chain development work in Latin America.
• Winrock International: US-based non-profit implementing agricultural development, natural resource management, and capacity building projects globally. Closely comparable to CEDAF in mission, donor-funded project implementation model, and agricultural extension focus.
• CATIE (Centro Agronómico Tropical de Investigación y Enseñanza): Regional agricultural research and education center based in Costa Rica. Directly comparable to CEDAF as a Latin American institution focused on tropical agriculture research, capacity building, and sustainable farming practices for smallholder producers.

Broad incumbents

• CIMMYT (International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center): CGIAR research center working on maize, wheat, and agricultural systems globally. A larger incumbent that connects agricultural research to smallholder capacity-building networks across Latin America in a similar way CEDAF operates nationally in the Dominican Republic.
• IICA (Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture): Hemispheric specialized agency for agriculture of the Inter-American System. A broader incumbent to CEDAF, providing regional agricultural policy, technical cooperation, and innovation support across 34 member states including the Dominican Republic (where CEDAF is a national implementation partner).
• CIAT (International Center for Tropical Agriculture): CGIAR research center focused on tropical agriculture, climate adaptation, and sustainable food systems. Broader international incumbent that conducts agricultural research feeding into capacity building pipelines similar to those CEDAF delivers.
• IDIAF (Instituto Dominicano de Investigaciones Agropecuarias y Forestales): Dominican government agricultural and forestry research institute. Domestic incumbent to CEDAF that performs agricultural research, technology generation, and innovation — overlapping with CEDAF's extension and technology transfer mandate but with a broader public-sector scope.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/cedaf_rd
• Facebookfacebook.com/cedaf1987
• Instagraminstagram.com/cedaf_rd
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/centro-para-el-desarrollo-agropecuario-y-forestal-cedaf-

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Centro para el Desarrollo Agropecuario y Forestal (CEDAF)