Cargill celebrates a decade of sustainability and innovation in Ghana with investment plans and farmer support

Cargill’s cocoa & chocolate business has commemorated its 10^thanniversary in Ghana by announcing plans for future investment and farmer support.

Cargill’s 2022 roadmap for Ghana includes:

80,000 farmers receiving capacity building support and facilitated access to inputs through our Farmer Field Schools
The provision of one million new cocoa seedlings for rehabilitation of old farms and 200,000 shade tree seedlings to protect cocoa trees and improve biodiversity
Access to crop protection for 30,000 farmers
Completion of 100 percent mapping of farms; using geolocation and perimeter of the farms to allow deforestation monitoring and farm development.
9,000 ha of cocoa developed into a cocoa agroforestry system within the Cocoa & Forest Initiative.

Commenting during the anniversary celebration event at Cargill’s cocoa processing facility in Tema, Ghana managing director Pieter Reichert said, “Our 2022 roadmap is fully aligned with our global sustainability goals and consolidates our continuing support for a sustainable cocoa business here in Ghana. Completion of our mapping programme will ensure farm sizes are accurately recorded to support farmers in decision making and investment. At the same time 80,000 farmers will be trained in good agricultural, environmental and social practices to support certification.”

Combatting deforestation is also an important part of Cargill’s sustainability approach. As a signatory of the Cocoa & Forests Initiative Cargill is committed to zero deforestation in its global supply chain by supporting activities to promote sustainable farming practices and improve the livelihoods of cocoa farmers and their communities. Towards 2022, Cargill has now committed to develop 9,000 ha of land into a cocoa agroforestry system within the Cocoa & Forests Initiative.

During the event Harold Poelma, president of Cargill Cocoa & Chocolate, also emphasized the importance of growing the sector using innovation: “We must embrace new technologies as a way to drive sector growth. For example, we have introduced e-money into our business model. This allows Cargill to buy cocoa directly from farmers and their cooperativesand pay them by electronic transfer, ensuring the money reaches them swiftly, safely and accurately. Ultimately, this improves the livelihoods of farmers and their communities. At the same time, new technological solutions are driving more precise, accurate traceability within the cocoa supply chain.”