Tag: Cocoa

Ghana, cocoa & chocolate companies collaborate to protect, restore forests

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GHANA – Ghana has forged a new partnership with major cocoa and chocolate companies to accelerate collaboration to protect and restore forests in cocoa-growing areas. The Memorandum of Understanding, signed by World Cocoa Foundation (WCF) and the Forestry Commission of Ghana (GFC), commits the parties to working together in six regions where the government of Ghana has made action to protect and restore forests a priority. Work in these Hotspot Intervention Areas has already started, with active engagements in the Asunafo-Asutifi, Bia-Juaboso, Kakum and Sefwi-Bibiani landscapes. WCF will be responsible…

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Olam Food Ingredients establishes systems to rid cocoa supply systems of child labour and deforestation

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UK – Olam Food Ingredients (OFI), a leading supplier of cocoa beans and cocoa ingredients, has announced the successful establishment of child labour and deforestation monitoring systems covering its entire supply chain. Child labour is defined by the International Labour Organisation as work that endangers children or interferes with their schooling. In the cocoa industry, the problem of child labour is rampant. The Payson Center for International Development and Technology Transfer estimates that approximately 1.8 million children in the Ivory Coast and Ghana may be exposed to the worst forms…

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Leading chocolate ice-cream brand Magnum commits to planting 465,000 trees in Ivory Coast

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IVORY COAST – Unilever-owned Magnum ice cream brand has announced a tree planting programme in the Cavally Forest region in Ivory Coast, targeting to plant 465,000 native trees as it marks International Day of Forests. This is part of a multi-year, strategic plan to preserve and restore the region where it sources its cocoa for its ice-creams. Magnum’s Brand Director, Ben Curtis, said, “We are proud to announce our work to protect and preserve forests in Côte d’Ivoire, where the majority of Magnum’s cocoa is sourced. “It helps us continue…

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Ghana to regulate oil palm sector, cocoa value chain actors and score performance of processing companies

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GHANA – Ghana, through the Oil Palm Development Association of Ghana (OPDAG) under the auspices of Tree Crop Development Authority (TCDA), is set to regulate the oil palm sector to help transform and boost the economy through trading. The move, targeting to manage cultivation and pricing of the commodity, is also aimed to enhance market access for palm oil value chain players and ensure that finished products meet both local and international market standards, reports Ghana News Agency. “The license would help unveil bad practitioners of oil palm plantation to…

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Ivory Coast eyes US$1.2 billion financing from EU to aid its gradual transition to sustainable cocoa production

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IVORY COAST – The world’s leading cocoa producing country Ivory Coast, is set to clinch €1bln (US$1.2 billion) financing from the European Union over the next six years, to aid the country’s cocoa sector adapt to EU supply chain laws towards sustainable cocoa production, due to be introduced later this year. The loan will be provided under the “Team Europe” initiative set up by the institution to assist its member countries, with the resources expected to come from all 27 EU member states as well as financial institutions in the…

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Barry Callebaut partners Deloitte to help farmers in Indonesia modernize cocoa farming

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INDONESIA – Barry Callebaut , one of world’s largest cocoa processors and chocolate manufacturers and Deloitte – one of the big four audit firms – have announced a multi-year partnership to accelerate the support for cocoa farming communities in Indonesia.  The multi-year strategic collaboration aims to equip Indonesian farmers with skills necessary for improving their cocoa farming ventures into modern, high income ventures. To this end, the companies plan to deliver educational and skills development programmes to over 30,000 cocoa farmers in Sulawesi and Sumatra. According to Barry Callebaut, Indonesia…

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Chocolate maker Lindt & Sprüngli launches new bar sweetened using cocoa pod from Swiss-Ghanaian start-up Koa

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GHANA – Lindt & Sprüngli, a global leader in the premium chocolate sector has partnered with a Swiss-Ghanaian start-up Koa to develop a new chocolate bar sweetened using cocoa pod’s pulp. The new chocolate known as Excellence Cacao Pur is exclusively made of 82% cocoa beans and 18% cocoa pulp from Koa. The use of cocoa pulp replaces the conventional refined sugar and create new flavor experiences with the chocolate maker indicating that the bar has an initial fruity and sour taste, followed by intense cocoa notes. “2021 will be…

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Ghana chocolate export earnings rose by 16.6% in 2019 reaching US$13.4m

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GHANA – Ghana, one of the world’s largest producer of cocoa earned US$13.4m from export of chocolate and other food preparation containing cocoa in 2019. According to a report by Ghana Export Promotion Authority (GEPA), this was a 16.6% increase from earnings of 2018 which stood at US$11.5m and a further rise from US$5.3m of 2017. The authority has highlighted the major market for Ghanaian chocolate during the period under review was Nigeria, accounting for 87% of the total exports worth US$11.8m. Nigeria has maintained its dominance as a key…

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Ghana boosts local consumption of cocoa-derivative products with week-long chocolate campaign

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GHANA – Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) in partnership with Ghana Tourism Authority, Ghana Investment Promotion Centre, cocoa processing companies and other stakeholders in the cocoa industry have officially launched the 2021 National Chocolate week. The event which commenced on 8th – 14th February is aimed to promote the consumption of chocolate and cocoa products in one of the world’s leading cocoa producing companies. Carried out under the theme: Eat Chocolate; Stay Healthy; Grow Ghana, the event is packed with activities to encourage the consumption of chocolate confectionery, beverages, and chocolate-infused…

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AfDB, ICRAF come to the aid of Ivorian cocoa farmers battling climate change

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IVORY COAST – The African Development Bank (AfDB) has partnered with World Agroforestry – ICRAF, to undertake a climate resilient cocoa farming project in two Ivorian smallholder farmers’ communities located in Soubre and Vavoua, currently grappling with declining yields caused by climate change and worsened by the COVID-19 pandemic. ICRAF is a centre of science and development excellence that harnesses the benefits of trees for people and the environment. Under the initiative the two smallholder farmer communities will receive climate-resilient and sustainable agroforestry assistance which will generate nature-based solutions that…

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