Swiss cocoa and chocolate products manufacturer Barry Callebaut continues to make strides toward sustainable cocoa farming.
Working in conjunction with the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) and Conseil Café Cacao (CCC), in Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire respectively, the company signed cooperative letters of intent on June 4 to work with the countries on designing a sustainable cocoa farming model.
All parties aim to develop a farming method that focuses on replanting cocoa trees killed by swollen-shoot virus disease. There is additional focus on agroforestry, an agricultural method concentrating on forest conservation and allowing farmers to diversify incomes.
“Combining the expertise and resources on the ground of both the COCOBOD and Barry Callebaut will lead to more impactful interventions and accelerate the progress towards a sustainable cocoa farming sector in Ghana,” said Barry Callebaut CEO Antoine de Saint-Affrique.
The goal is to provide sustainable solutions to cocoa farming that would improve efficiency as well as protect the natural environment.
“Ensuring the coexistence of cocoa farming with the protection of our country’s classified forests is a high priority for the Ivorian government,” said Alain Richard Donwahi, minister of waters and forests in Côte d’Ivoire.
Both parties also aim to attract more females and younger workers to cocoa farming. In the letters, all parties agreed toward taking steps that would lead to the elimination of child labor.
Barry Callebaut, COCOBOD and CCC hope to share initial outcomes of the partnership in 2019.
