Cocoa
Cocoa is a fragile and sensitive crop, grown in a narrow geographical band near the Equator primarily by smallholder farmers and their families in some of the poorest, infrastructure-weak regions of the world. Cocoa farming is labor-intensive and lack of access to reliable information as well as new planting materials and other inputs make life in these areas difficult.
Corporate responsibility and sustainability
Source: Annual Report 2011/12
GRI Content Index
English [343 KB]Increasing productivity and improving the quality of the cocoa produced on smallholder farms, particularly in West and Central Africa, is our main area of focus. We support farmer training in Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) including how to improve soil fertility and yields, post-harvest management, disease and pest management, and biodiversity. Higher yields of better quality cocoa offer opportunities for farmers to earn higher income. Improving access to education and basic health care for cocoa farmers and their families in communities where such services are insufficient or unavailable is also important.
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Cocoa Horizons
A global sustainability initiative launched in March 2012 that aims to improve yields and livelihoods on a large scale
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Quality Partner Program
A long-term sustainability program launched in Côte d’Ivoire in 2005 and expanded to Cameroon in 2010
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Certification
Independent, third-party validation that cocoa is grown according to defined criteria
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Responsible labor practices
Engaging with cocoa farming communities to protect children and promote safe working conditions
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