Corporate Governance
 
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Sustainability & the Community

 

 
Sustainability & the Community
     
         
 

Our commitment to sustainability and community initiatives is grounded in our desire to give back to those who have brought us this far and is aligned with our overall CSR approach. Examples of these programmes include:

  1. PACTS (Processors Alliance for Cocoa Traceability and Sustainability) – a tri-partite joint venture with the Cemoi Group and the Blommer Chocolate Company to improve the livelihoods of the local cocoa farming community in the Ivory Coast and improve the supply of high quality fermented cocoa beans. At the heart of this JV is a balance of interests of the cocoa farming community and users of cocoa beans; and at a different level, the interests of the Cote D’lvoire and consumers of chocolate and cocoa. Formed in May 2010, the JV aims to establish up to 30 fermentation centres and work with up to 50 local co-operatives covering approximately 10,000 farmers over a three-year period. The JV will also develop and implement advanced training and instruction programs to help farmers improve efficiencies and yields of their farms and therefore, enhance their incomes. This initiative was completed in April 2017.

  2. A joint cocoa development initiative with the International Finance Corporation (an affiliate of the World Bank) to provide training and on-site assistance for 500 cocoa farmers in Sulawesi, Indonesia.This initiative focuses on improving the livelihoods of farmers by helping them increase their cocoa productivity and cocoa quality through sustainable farming practices. This programme also aims to enhance environmental protection and spur economic growth in the region. We plan to extend this initiative to more than 5,000 farmers. This initiative was completed in December 2008.

  3. Member of the World Cocoa Foundation (“WCF”), which is committed to promoting a sustainable cocoa economy through economic and social development and environmental stewardship in cocoa-growing communities. Together with other major industry players and development agencies, we support targeted cocoa sustainability programmes in all the major cocoa growing regions to benefit the world’s cocoa farmers and ensure a long-term supply of high quality cocoa. This initiative was completed in December 2008.