Cargill has strengthened its global commitment to cocoa farmers and to building a sustainable cocoa sector through its Cocoa Promise.
The commitment builds on the company’s work over the past ten years, and reconfirms Cargill’s efforts to grow and sustain cocoa farming communities while meeting the growing global demand for sustainable cocoa beans.
The Cargill Cocoa Promise reinforces the company’s global commitment to making a difference in three key areas: training cocoa farmers; supporting cocoa farming communities; and investing in the long-term sustainable production of cocoa.
The programme will see Cargill continue to invest and provide financing, training and support to maintain and strengthen a sustainable cocoa supply chain in Brazil, Cameroon, Ghana, Indonesia, Ivory Coast and Vietnam . Already, Cargill is on target to source over 100,000t of certified sustainable cocoa beans from Ivory Coast by 2015 – making its programme the largest of its kind in the country.
Jos De Loor, president of Cargill’s cocoa and chocolate business, said: "The Cargill Cocoa Promise underlines our commitment to lead efforts on sustainable cocoa and support the future of cocoa farming around the world.
"We have been working closely with cocoa farmers and communities for many years. Our promise will help strengthen cocoa production, while continuing to improve the livelihoods of farmers, increasing access to education and healthcare in local communities, and providing better access to technology, finance and infrastructure."
