ofi (Olam Food Ingredients), a global provider of naturally good food and beverage ingredients and solutions, is driving resilience in cocoa farming communities, to help secure the long-term supply security of cocoa ingredients for food and beverage manufacturers.
It’s latest Cocoa Compass Impact Report (2024) reveals ofi has surpassed its cocoa greenhouse gas (GHG) Natural Capital Cost1 reduction milestone2 target for 2024 with an overall 12% reduction per ton of output against its 2018 baseline.
It also reached its 2030 cocoa living income target, in collaboration with its customers and partners, with 155,000 farmers earning a living income, representing 45% of farmers in its global cocoa sustainability programs3
ofi, Global Head of Cocoa Sustainability, Andrew Brooks comments
“We’re continuing to invest in farm-level engagement and ingredient innovation by leveraging the scale of our integrated business model. This enables us to de-risk supply chains, and help deliver more sustainable, high-quality cocoa ingredients and tailored food solutions to our customers that meet evolving consumer demands.
“Our latest impact in our cocoa supply chain is supporting our ambition of being the preferred partner for positive change, in line with our overarching sustainability strategy- Choices for Change. As we continue towards 2030, our focus will be on maintaining this progress and enable more sustainable outcomes for cocoa production against the unpredictability of fluctuating markets and climate changes.”
ofi’s Cocoa Compass impact report marks the halfway point between the 2018 baseline for its Cocoa product sustainability strategy, and 2030 targets. Other key 2024 achievements in the report are:
- 9.8 million trees distributed for agroforestry programs(cumulative)
- 257,000 farmers trained in Good Agricultural Practices(annual)
- 320,000 cocoa farmers received livelihood support (annual)
- 6 active landscape partnerships(annual)
- 40,000 children received education support(annual)
Farmer incomes are influenced by multiple factors such as weather and markets prices, which has seen high volatility in the last three years. In 2024, it resulted in prices increasing sharply, influencing the increase in farmers earning a living income. Conversely, a drop in the market price in the future would have the opposite effect.
ofi is using living income as a valuable contextual indicator, serving as a north star to gauge economic status and guide its interventions. ofi’s Living Income progress is largely due to cocoa market price increases, and livelihood support. ofi has provided 320,000 farmers with livelihood support to help farmers be more resilient to the market and climate shocks. This approach enables tailored training and practical livelihood support to be delivered over multiple years, through long-term collaboration with our customers and partners.
