FDBusiness.com

Cargill’s cocoa & chocolate business has been named as one of just three companies in the running for Best Sustainability Initiative at the forthcoming Food Ingredients Europe Excellence Awards 2013. The global cocoa and chocolate business has been recognised for the Cargill Cocoa Promise – which commits the company to working with cocoa farmers, cocoa communities and customers to secure a supply of cocoa for generations to come.

Ultimately, the Cargill Cocoa Promise aims to improve yields, incomes and livelihoods through farmer training, community support and farm development and is delivered in partnership with local networks and farmer organisations.

Saskia Samama, Marketing Manager Sustainable Cocoa, explains: “Because we have people gathering insights and running projects in six cocoa origin countries in South America, Asia and West Africa, the scale and depth of the Cargill Cocoa Promise is unique.  As a result, we can address the complex issues in each region, and we develop locally appropriate solutions.”

The Promise is already making a measurable difference around the world across its three key areas of focus. Farmer training in good agricultural practices is playing a vital part in increasing yields and incomes. So far, Cargill’s support has resulted in:

* 60,000 farmers being trained each year in Côte d’Ivoire through 1,100 Farmer Field Schools;

* 7,000 farmers in Cameroon being set on a path to UTZ Certified and Rainforest Alliance certification.

Community support projects are making a difference to health and education standards in cocoa producing communities. Results of Cargill-supported projects include:

* 6,000 farmers being given the most up-to-date information through their mobile phones through our co-sponsorship of the Ghana CocoaLink project;

* 12,500 Ghanaian children have been helped to graduate from primary school through our rural education project, delivered in partnership with CARE.

Farm development activities are promoting more sustainable practices to secure the long-term health of farms. Cargill projects have, for example, resulted in:

* 5 million seedlings being distributed in Brazil to ensure the long-term health of cocoa farms;

* 100 development farms being set up in Vietnam, which will promote good agricultural practices.

Jos de Loor, president of Cargill’s cocoa and chocolate business comments: “We are incredibly proud of the difference our work is making to cocoa producing communities in origin countries.  Ultimately, we believe our work to promote sustainable practices will contribute to the long term security of the cocoa supply chain, helping our customers to delight consumers for years to come.”

Sustainability – A Permanent Fixture

Recent research commissioned by Cargill suggests that over a third of its customers consider sustainable cocoa, certified independently, to be vital for the long-term supply of cocoa and chocolate products.

Saskia Samama comments: “We’re delighted that more of our customers are increasingly recognising the long-term benefits of purchasing sustainable cocoa. Awards like this are brilliant for raising awareness and raising standards in the industry when it comes to promoting sustainability. We’re exceptionally proud that our work is being recognised for the change it is creating for farmers and the wider industry.”

Winners of the award will be announced at Food Ingredients Europe in Frankfurt, Germany, on 19 November 2013.