Cadbury’s owner Mondelez International has published its 2021 Snacking Made Right Report, which marks 10 years of its sustainability programme Cocoa Life.
The report reveals that Cocoa Life had exceeded 2022 goals by reaching almost 210,000 farmers in over 2,500 communities. Additionally, more than $400 million was invested to support farmers’ livelihoods.
The report includes progress statistics including, the completion of 300,000 trainings for farmers and community members on good agricultural and environmental practises.
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It also states the net incomes increased by around 15% in Ghana and 33% in Cote d’Ivoire compared to 2019.
On top of this, 2,400 (96%) Cocoa Life communities were “empowered” through Community Action Plans, prioritising investment in school infrastructure, water and health.
Around 61% of Cocoa Life communities in West Africa were also covered with a Child Labor Monitoring and Remediation System, which was up by 33% compared to 2020.
“We invested in pioneering our own program, Cocoa Life, because certification labels didn’t go far enough in addressing the underlying issues in cocoa,” Mondelez International SVP and chief impact and sustainability officer Christine Montenegro McGrath said.
“We wanted to tackle the challenges on the ground in a more effective way, and so, we partnered with farmers, communities, local governments, suppliers and NGOs, invested directly in cocoa communities to create lasting change, and measured the impact of our actions.”
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