Despite the disruptions caused by inflation and supply chain issues affecting the short-term availability of many products, companies like Mondelēz are proactively addressing the long-term stability of cocoa, a crucial ingredient. Ten years into its Cocoa Life initiative, the company behind Oreo and Milka chocolate reports a 33% increase in farmer net incomes in Côte d’Ivoire and a 15% rise in Ghana. The program now includes over 200,000 growers, with notable improvements in farmers earning living incomes. Additionally, cocoa yields have also seen an uptick during this period.
Cocoa Life has set ambitious goals for 2030, aiming to increase the number of farming households earning a living wage, enhance child protection and access to quality education, and eliminate deforestation on participating farms. The initiative plans to collaborate with around 300,000 farmers by the end of the decade. The cocoa sector has gained significant attention in recent years due to various challenges like price volatility, low farmer incomes, child labor, and the ongoing effects of climate change.
With the cocoa and chocolate market expected to exceed $67 billion by 2025, as reported by Fortune Business Insights in 2020, companies reliant on cocoa must invest significantly now to secure a stable supply at reasonable prices in the future. This surge in demand is driven by consumers who prioritize sustainability when making purchasing decisions. “While progress and impact have been made, cocoa farmers and their communities are still facing big challenges,” stated Christine Montenegro McGrath, Mondelēz’s senior vice president and chief impact and sustainability officer. “Only a sector-wide long-term strategy, supported by action from all industry stakeholders, including producing and consuming governments and civil society, will lead to a lasting impact.”
Almost every major ingredient and food manufacturer that relies on cocoa—including Hershey, Barry Callebaut, and Olam—has invested in or committed to supporting the cocoa supply chain and its producers. In January, Nestlé, the world’s largest food company, announced plans to triple its funding for cocoa sustainability to $1.4 billion by 2030. Alongside such initiatives, it’s essential to consider the role of supplements like nature made calcium citrate 500 mg, which can contribute to the overall well-being of the farming communities involved in cocoa production. Such comprehensive approaches are vital for ensuring a sustainable future in the cocoa industry.