IVORY COAST – The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) in partnership with the World Cocoa Foundation has announced a US$2 million fund to boost cocoa sector in Ivory Coast.

Mark Green, USAID Administrator the funds will also facilitate empowering women to fully participate in the value chain outlining that the agency has in the past partnered private investors to promote the sector.  

“Through efforts like Feed the Future, we have long worked with the Cocoa Foundation and the private sector to improve productivity with training, technical assistance, and inputs like seed and fertilizer,” he said.

This comes at a time when Ivory Coast’s Coffee and Cocoa Council (CCC) has unveiled a new cocoa trading system that will involve daily auctions by selling cocoa directly to the world’s top exporters as it seeks to boost efficiencies.

CCC aims to sell about 1.6 million tonnes in total before the start of the next season as it continues to harmonizing its trading system with Ghana’s Cocoa Board.

Barry Callebaut commits to 100% cocoa traceability in West Africa

Barry Callebaut, a leading global cocoa and chocolate supplier has reaffirmed its commitment to deliver 100% traceability in its Ghana, Ivory Coast and Côte d’Ivoire cocoa supply chains in a bid to end cocoa farming induced deforestation.

Barry Callebaut said that it aims to reach 100% traceability of its ingredients by 2025 to promote sustainability in its operations.

The group says it has mapped 100% of the farms and warehouses in its direct supply chain at risk of sourcing from protected forest areas in Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire as part of the Cocoa and Forests Initiative (CFI).

Barry Callebaut says it has mapped all its cocoa farms within 5 km from a protected forest area and all cocoa warehouses within 25km from a protected forest area in Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana by the end of the year.

According to a report by Confectionary News the move will see 100% of the cocoa volume sourced in Ghana and 40% of the cocoa volume sourced in Côte d’Ivoire by Barry Callebaut traceable.

Through the ‘Forever Chocolate’ Barry Callebaut plans to ensure sustainability in its supply chains by 2025 to help ensure future supplies of cocoa and improve farmer livelihoods.

The Ghanaian government has already mandated the traceability of cocoa by licensed cocoa buyers operating locally.