Cloetta will certify the entire chocolate assortment with sustainable cocoa from UTZ Certified farmers by 2014.
“For Cloetta, it is important to address the challenges that the cocoa farmers face in West Africa. By taking further sustainability aspects into the company’s cocoa sourcing strategy, Cloetta creates a platform for securing high quality raw materials to the factories while simultaneously providing possibilities for West African farmers to develop a sustainable business. If we don’t, there is a risk of not getting enough cocoa in the future.”, says Thomas Wiesgickl, Director Corporate Responsibility at Cloetta.
West Africa accounts for approximately 70% of the total world crop of cocoa beans. The crop is grown by 3 million small holder farms where a single farm has an average plot of land of 2-4 hectares with an average yield of 1-2 tonnes of cocoa beans per year.
The West African cocoa farmers face a number of economic, social and environmental challenges in growing cocoa. Low productivity on the farms is a key challenge. Limited knowledge of how to grow quality cocoa in an effective manner is a root cause to the productivity problem. Farmers are also struggling with aging cocoa trees as well as the declining fertility of soil. Also, farmers often have no means of financing purchases of planting material and fertilizers, etc.
Cloetta will implement certified cocoa from UTZ Certified during 2014.
About UTZ Certified
UTZ Certified stands for sustainable farming and better opportunities for farmers, their families and the planet. The UTZ program enables farmers to learn better farming methods, improve working conditions and take better care of their children and the environment.
Through the UTZ-program farmers grow better crops, generate more income and create better opportunities while safeguarding the environment and securing the earth’s natural resources.
Cocoa products do not get the UTZ label easily. The compliance with the strict requirements by UTZ certified farms and businesses, is closely monitored by independent third parties. These requirements include Good Agricultural Practices and farming management, safe and healthy working conditions, abolition of child labor and protection of the environment.
Read more about UTZ Certified at www.utzcertified.org