Establishing 100% Traceability for Barry Callebaut’s Cocoa Supply Chain in Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana

So why is mapping significant?

Thanks to the mapping we have now excluded any cocoa purchases from farms fully or partly located within a protected area boundary.

Sounds like you have made good progress. What are some of the outstanding actions?

As a company we can focus on our direct supply chain, but we need government support to oblige all cocoa buyers in Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana to take the same mapping actions as we have done. This will be developed collaboratively with governments and other sector stakeholders under the CFI.

Furthermore, in terms of the identification of farms which have been found at risk of sourcing from National Parks and Reserves, we require guidance from the governments of Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana to adopt social and environmental safeguards to find alternative livelihoods for these farmers.

So, with the mapping almost completed, is your work done to stop deforestation in the cocoa supply chain?

Oh no, we are only getting started!

In addition to preventing the sourcing of cocoa from protected forest areas through traceability, Barry Callebaut is developing innovative agricultural projects with partners in Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana to restore previous cocoa land into agroforestry farming, incorporating shade and commercial tree species.

We have so far distributed over 1.8 million, young cocoa seedlings for replanting in Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana. Until 2022, we aim to distribute 3.2 million cocoa seedlings to this purpose. Furthermore, we have so far distributed almost 390,000 shade trees for replanting in Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana.

Finally, the mapping serves to stop the sourcing from protected forest areas. In addition we need to drive a systemic change to cocoa farming in Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana, as is clearly recognized in the CFI. This means stopping cocoa farmers from encroaching in protected forest areas by supporting them to grow more cocoa on existing agricultural land.

Together with participating farmers, we are developing customized Farm Business Plans, whereby we advise on the best mix of seedlings and fertilizers, and support farmers to access labor on credit for each farm. Last year, over 7,000 farmers had a Farm Development Plan a further 167,000 farmers were involved in sustainability programs.

Finally, the mapping serves to stop the sourcing from protected forest areas. In addition we need to drive a systemic change to cocoa farming in Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana, as is clearly recognized in the CFI. This means stopping cocoa farmers from encroaching in protected forest areas by supporting them to grow more cocoa on existing agricultural land.

Together with participating farmers, we are developing customized Farm Business Plans, whereby we advise on the best mix of seedlings and fertilizers, and support farmers to access labor on credit for each farm. Last year, over 7,000 farmers had a Farm Development Plan a further 167,000 farmers were involved in sustainability programs.

This article was originally published by Barry Callebaut, barry-callebaut.com.