Cargill Cocoa & Chocolate
Sustainable Certified programs
Cargill Cocoa & Chocolate’s deep involvement in the cocoa chain has allowed us to take the lead in a multi-stakeholder initiative to improve the sustainability of the cocoa sector. The UTZ Certified ‘Good Inside’ cocoa program implements a credible certification and traceability system for mainstream cocoa to ensure that both the industry and consumers know that the cocoa is produced in a sustainable, responsible and safe way.
The UTZ Certified code of conduct was developed through a participative process involving companies, producers, NGOs (Non Governmental Organizations) and research agencies from around the world. Farmers are trained in the code through Cargill’s Farmer Field Schools. The training focuses not only on social and environmental best practices but on improving the quality of the crop. As a result, UTZ certification benefits the farmers economically while producing high-quality cocoa and chocolate.
Cargill Cocoa & Chocolate is cofounder of the UTZ Certified ‘Good Inside’ cocoa program, which was launched in 2008 in Côte d‘Ivoire. UTZ Certified is designed as a mainstream model that seeks to implement a world-wide certification and traceability program for responsible commodity production and sourcing. One of the world's largest coffee certification programs, it has also expanded to include tea, palm oil and cocoa.
In 2010, Cargill established training for cocoa farmers from 35 farming cooperatives in 300 Farmer Fields Schools in Côte d'Ivoire, resulting in 10,000Mt of sustainably grown cocoa. The program is now being expanded and extended to other cocoa producing countries, such as Vietnam and Cameroon. As a result of these ongoing efforts, certified sustainable cocoa and chocolate is becoming available in limited quantities.
We are gradually scaling up availability and invite our customers to join us in our journey towards achieving a sustainable supply chain. With UTZ Certified we guarantee consumers an excellent cocoa and chocolate experience - from sustainable start to delicious finish.
After the first year of certification, the pilot cooperatives and their farmers in Côte d'Ivoire are clearly benefiting from the results of farmer training. Cocoa yields have risen nearly 50% and pest problems have been reduced by 30%. The training program is now undergoing a strong expansion in Côte d'Ivoire and is being rolled out in other countries where we feel we can make a difference.
Learn more about UTZ on www.utzcertified.org