Cargill Outlines Plan to End Cocoa Deforestation

"We recognize there is considerable urgency to address climate and deforestation challenges. This means engaging in programs to stop deforestation in the countries from which we source cocoa," said Cargill Cocoa & Chocolate president, Harold Poelma. "We have made important first steps but there is more to be done and we believe that this action plan is how we will reach our goal."

In October 2017, Cargill introduced five sustainability goals for a thriving and sustainable cocoa sector, aligned with the UN's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Protect Our Planet, which will be implemented in five origin countries where Cargill sources cocoa and throughout the company's indirect supply chain, outlines how the company will achieve those goals and eliminate deforestation from its supply chain by 2030, including:

"Concerns around deforestation and its impact demand a joint response from private and public sectors, companies and citizens alike," said Poelma. "We are committed to playing our part in ending deforestation in the cocoa sector while improving the lives of cocoa farmers and their communities, reinforcing our ability to thrive as a business while leaving a positive impact on the world around us."

AboutCargill 

Cargill's 155,000 employees across 70 countries work relentlessly to achieve our purpose of nourishing the world in a safe, responsible and sustainable way. Every day, we connect farmers with markets, customers with ingredients, and people and animals with the food they need to thrive.

We combine 153 years of experience with new technologies and insights to serve as a trusted partner for food, agriculture, financial and industrial customers in more than 125 countries. Side-by-side, we are building a stronger, sustainable future for agriculture. For more information, visit Cargill.com and our News Center.

About Cargill Cocoa & Chocolate 

Cargill Cocoa & Chocolate offers its customers quality products and services they trust to help them thrive, today and in the future. We consistently deliver a wide range of products-including cocoa powder, liquor and butter, chocolates, fillings and coatings-to help customers stand out from the crowd. Cargill offers peace of mind in the short and long-term; day-to-day we work to the highest safety standards and offer insight-driven price risk management and sustainable cocoa services. For recipe development and optimization, we have seven specialized Application Centers around the world. Our insights on market and consumer trends, combined with our innovation support and consistent performance, make us a proactive partner in all major consumer markets. Cargill customers also benefit from our bean sourcing and research capabilities in key origin countries, including Brazil, Ecuador, Cameroon, Ghana, Côte d'Ivoire and Indonesia. With a team of more than 3,500 passionate cocoa and chocolate experts in 47 locations, we provide unique knowledge and proactive services across five continents, built on a foundation of 150 years of experience.

Visit http://www.cargillcocoachocolate.com.

About Cargill Cocoa Promise 

We launched the Cargill Cocoa Promise in 2012 to align our efforts in origin countries. It is our commitment to improving the livelihoods of farmers and communities in a holistic way that will secure a thriving sector for generations to come. The origin countries include Brazil, Cameroon, Côte d'Ivoire, Ghana and Indonesia.