World Cocoa Foundation Commitments
“We succeed—or struggle—as one”
Businesses that make chocolate—no matter how large or small, no matter where they are—share one thing in common. They are all linked to cocoa farmers and the millions of small, family farms around the world where those farmers tend the delicate cocoa trees.
Cocoa is the major source of income for many communities in West Africa, Southeast Asia and South and Central America. Yet issues such as crop loss to pests and diseases and limited access to the latest innovations and research make cocoa farming challenging for family farmers.
The World Cocoa Foundation (WCF) was formed in 2000 to help cocoa farmers worldwide, and strengthen the communities in which they live. WCF is committed to improving the lives of cocoa farmers throughout the world.
WCF-sponsored programs are helping farmers in Ecuador earn more from their cocoa crop; training teachers in Ghana to improve education in cocoa farming villages, and showing growers in the Ivory Coast how to protect the environment. The work of the WCF also addresses critical issues—like the importance of safe, responsible labor practices on cocoa farms.
Whether in West Africa, Asia or Latin America, World Cocoa Foundation programs reflect an industry-wide belief: the success of the chocolate maker depends upon the success and well-being of the cocoa farmer.