As 2025 draws to a close, leading cocoa brands and suppliers face a decisive moment in shaping the future of sustainable supply chains. As many are shifting their strategy in light of upcoming regulations, supply and price volatility, Fairtrade calls on them to ensure their purchasing practices and programme investments put cooperatives at the front and centre.
Strong, member-led co-operatives are crucial to drive sustainable, resilient livelihoods for cocoa farmers beyond the scope or duration of specific interventions, but they can only unlock their transformative potential if they’re backed by long-term partnerships with holistic interventions and sustained investments.
As demands for greater traceability and transparency increase, co-operatives require sustained financial support to keep serving cocoa farmers effectively.
It’s been an exceptionally turbulent year for the cocoa industry, which saw historic highs peaking at $12,000 per metric tonne in late 2024, driven by climate-related shocks, global supply chain disruptions, and fluctuating consumer demand. Yet despite record prices, most West African cocoa farmers remain trapped below the poverty line, burdened by rising costs.
According to a new Fairtrade report, the path forward lies in the strength of co-operatives. The report, Building a Better World for Cocoa Farmers: How co-operatives drive change for cocoa farmers in West Africa: Evidence from 2024–25 draws on new data and evidence collected by Fairtrade through programme evaluations, independent studies, and other research projects.
The data highlights the transformative impact of strong co-operatives, organisations that support farmers to build resilience, secure financial benefits, and access essential services that enhance livelihoods and fortify communities. These co-operatives not only boost farmer incomes and lift more families out of poverty but also play a vital role in advancing the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.
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Joseph Clarke
Editor, International Confectionery
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