Ferrero recently released its fourth annual report on the Cocoa and Forest Initiative (CFI), showcasing company achievements made over the past four years and outlining its plans for sustainable cocoa production and forest conservation.
With the goal of tackling deforestation, promoting reforestation and ensuring the long-term viability of cocoa-farming communities, Ferrero has assessed 420,000 hectares of land for deforestation risk and distributed more than three million multi-purpose trees for on-farm planting and 775,000 native trees across Côte d’Ivoire for reforestation over the last three years.
“We know that cocoa provides a source of income and is a way of life for many communities. But we also know that deforestation and climate change threaten to undermine this,” said Marco Gonçalves, Chief Procurement and Hazelnut Company Officer at Ferrero. “Championing the transition to sustainable livelihoods is essential to protect our forests, provide economic security, and sustain a healthy planet.”
The CFI is a collaboration between 36 cocoa and chocolate companies, totalling 85% of global cocoa usage and the governments of Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana.
The company has now launched CFI 2.0 at the end of its four-year plan to build upon successes and lessons learned from the initial programme. The CFI Action Plan 2018-2022 saw the company make achievements across its three pillars – forest protection, sustainable production and community engagement.
Under forest protection and restoration commitments, Ferrero recorded assessing 421,000 hectares of land for deforestation risk in addition to distributing 5.4 million non-cocoa trees for on and off-farm planting and training 68,000 farmers in climate smart cocoa practices.
As part of pillar two – sustainable production and farmers’ livelihoods – the company noted it had supported 36,000 farmers through Farm Development Plans, engaged 26,000 people in additional income generating activities and distributed 5.2 million cocoa seedlings to name a few.
As part of the third and final pillar, community engagement and social inclusion, Ferrero implemented forest restoration and protection programs in 161 communities, engaged 4700 children through community service groups and distributed 7900 clean cookstoves to families across several communities.
In anticipation of CFI 2.0, Ferrero said it will be looking at developing and strengthening national traceability systems and collaborating with national governments and the wider confectionery industry.
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