News
Using the optimistic mindset – further strengthening trust
Last year, at the World Cocoa Conference in Berlin, The German Initiative on Sustainable Cocoa and the Swiss Platform for Sustainable Cocoa discussed the latest issues affecting the industry. At this year’s ISM, they met again to look at what progress has been made, with a particular focus on giving farmers a living wage. “Business as usual is no longer an option” was the outcome of the World Cocoa Conference in Berlin nine months ago, signalling the need for a new beginning, but has the cocoa sector become more sustainable since then? This question was discussed by three representatives of the confectionery industry and the food retailers and a co-operative representative from Côte d’Ivoire, at a joint event of the German Initiative on Sustainable Cocoa and the Swiss Platform for Sustainable Cocoa at ISM in Cologne last month. Read More
Cacao, Côte d’Ivoire’s gold
In this Figaro Magazine special report. learn about the importance of the cocoa sector for the world's first producer, Côte d'Ivoire. The article describes opportunities and challenges linked to cocoa farming, from infrastructure to living income and deforestation issues. Read More
Cargill outlines plan to end cocoa deforestation
Cargill has outlined its plan to eliminate deforestation from its cocoa supply chain. The Protect Our Planet plan provides concrete actions the company is taking to achieve 100 percent cocoa bean traceability and includes a commitment of “no further conversion” of any forest land in Ghana and Ivory Coast for cocoa production. It also expands the company’s forest efforts to five origin countries (Brazil, Indonesia, Cameroon, Ivory Coast and Ghana) as well as the indirect cocoa supply chain, while securing the future livelihoods and resilience of smallholder cocoa farmers. Read More
Is the End of Cocoa-Related Deforestation Within Reach?
“How much rainforest is in that chocolate bar?,” asked the World Resources Institute in a thoughtful blog several years ago. The… Read More
‘You’ll find very few people who disagree with the idea that farmers should earn a living income’
In the week Fairtrade made a major announcement on increasing its Minimum Price for cocoa and upping its farmers' premium payments, Jon Walker, the foundation's senior cocoa advisor, talks exclusively to Confectionery News about Fairtrade's strategy for the future in ending farmer poverty. Read More
Ghana: New CREMA Executives Trained to Effectively Manage Natural Resources in Their Communities
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD), with support from Mondelēz International, have trained 250 newly elected executives (including 75 women) of the Ayum-Asuokow Community Resource Management Area (CREMA) in the Brong Ahafo Region, to enhance their skills on effective natural resources management. Read More
Guest article: Cocoa market still ‘unethical, unfair’ despite 10 years of sustainability in the industry
The cocoa and chocolate sector is becoming more sustainable but smallholder farmers are yet to be convinced Read More
Bahia notebook: Why is rubber so important to the growing of cocoa in Brazil?
As part of a field trip for delegates at the World Cocoa Foundation Partnership Meeting in Sao Paulo in October, WCF organized a visit to CEPLAC so industry experts could see for themselves the work being carried out to not only help and promote Brazil's cocoa farmers under the cabruca system - but also its scientific research into creating a more sustainable environment through bio-diversity and agroforestry. Read More
Bahia notebook: How cocoa was given a new lease of life using old methods – video
When Agrícola Condurú took over an abandoned cocoa plantation six years ago, the growers slowly brought it back to life, using the unique cabruca system to preserve the forest. Read More