We’ve heard many pledges by businesses and governments to go further, create real and lasting change in cocoa supply chains, and ensure a better future for farming communities and our climate. However, turning those promises into action remains a challenge.
Across the world, cocoa-growing communities face daily struggles from low prices to climate fluctuations, resulting in lower yields. Long-term change can only come if everyone involved in cocoa takes time to understand those struggles and work with communities to put in place solutions that will last. In my experience, businesses must prioritize three things in order to scale this progress.
Creating economic incentives
Most cocoa farmers own very small plots of land, often with aging trees and declining production. That means helping farmers earn a living income goes beyond just increasing the price of cocoa. We must work with farmers to develop more professionalized and sustainable growing practices. And, although no one business has the solution to these complex, interrelated challenges, the industry can work in partnership to give farmers the holistic support they need to leave a life of poverty behind.
For example, helping develop agroforestry systems, where other crops such as fruit trees are grown alongside cocoa, can increase harvest yields, allowing farmers to grow and earn more, while also capturing carbon and supporting local ecosystems.
When farmers can’t earn enough from their plots of land, some encroach into forests. Offering credit applications can help farmers spread costs throughout the year, enabling communities to invest in the future of their farms, without that coming at the expense of their environment.
Equipping farmers with the tools for future success
To equip farmers for future success, businesses need to provide long-term tools, infrastructure, and training. Harnessing production and geographical data to create tailored farm development plans helps farmers get the most from their land by sharing best practice techniques and providing sound advice for successful cultivation. In 2020/21, in partnership with our customers, we trained 15% more farmers in our sustainability programs on how to apply Good Agricultural Practices (GAP), and generated over 47,000 personalized plans, helping increase yields by 9% from 2020/21.
Agronomy and plant science are also helping to build a clearer picture of how we can help farmers grow cocoa in a smarter way. For example, at ofi, we’ve run specific trials on producing high-quality and profitable cocoa without harming the environment. In Indonesia and Côte d’Ivoire, we’re seeing promising results from our trials of chemical-free pest control. One finding is that farmers who prune their cocoa trees, especially coupled with composting, can see a 40-50% reduction in pest or disease levels, allowing them to cut down on chemical pesticides while also improving their productivity by up to 20%. A simple change that can have a big impact.
Empowering communities to be the change
Cocoa farmers on the ground have a bigger stake than anyone in the success of their farms and the health of their environment. In Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire, we found that helping communities set up landscape management boards empowers them to address the challenges and threats they face from deforestation and climate change. Similarly, making it easier for farmers to register their trees so they can prove ownership, giving them more confidence to invest sustainably in their farms for the long-term.
On average, women earn only 21% of the income that men do from cocoa production[1]. By providing them the proper support, they can become the catalyst for more sustainable communities and prosperous families. In partnership with the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and Lindt & Sprüngli, we launched a new pilot project in 2021 in Papua New Guinea. In the first year, we’re teaching 500 female cocoa farmers new skills to help them boost their incomes in a sustainable way, such as making clothes and vegetable gardening.
Whilst it’s evident that businesses are beginning to act against climate change, more work is needed to embed these attitudes from the ground up. Only by providing support through collective action can we empower cocoa growing communities to be agents of positive change.
[1] The New Queens of Cocoa, Fairtrade Foundation
