Mondelēz International has underlined its commitment to reduce emissions across its cocoa supply chain in Ghana in a memorandum of understanding with the Forestry Commission of Ghana, Ghana Cocoa Board and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
Through Cocoa Life, Mondelēz International’s sustainable cocoa-sourcing programme, the company will take a leading role in implementing projects to deliver the Ghana Cocoa Forest REDD+ Programme (GCFRP).
Mondelēz is contributing US$5 million over five years to the GCFRP. The programme aims to significantly reduce the high rate of deforestation, forest degradation and their associated greenhouse carbon emissions from cocoa farming within Ghana’s High Forest Zone.
“Deforestation makes up the largest part of our carbon footprint, which is why it’s so important for us to address this issue head on,” said Mondelēz International Executive Vice President and President Europe Hubert Weber.
“Through this collaboration, we can be even more efficient in safeguarding the environment and helping cocoa farmers become resilient against climate change. This partnership builds on Cocoa Life’s ongoing forest protection efforts. It’s an exciting new chapter in our work in Ghana and fits with the commitment we made by signing the Cocoa & Forests Initiative Framework for Action at the UN Climate Change Conference (COP23).”
As one of the largest cocoa-producing countries, Ghana supplies about 20% of the world’s cocoa. According to the GCFRP, Ghana also has one of the highest deforestation rates in Africa at 3.2% per annum. This is primarily due to unsustainable expansion of cocoa and other agricultural crops.
Together with its partners, Mondelēz International will work in key ‘Hotspot Intervention Areas’, focusing on:
- Mapping all land uses, including cocoa farms
- Implementing climate-smart cocoa practices to increase yields and sustainability
- Improving access to finance to foster good practices by farmers and communities
- Legislative and policy reform to support programme execution
- Coordination and measurement, reporting and verification
“Deforestation makes up the largest part of our carbon footprint, which is why it’s so important for us to address this issue head on,” – Mondelēz International Executive Vice President and President Europe Hubert Weber
Ghana Minister for Lands and Natural Resources and Signatory of the Cocoa & Forests Initiative John Peter Amewu commented: “The Ghana government is promoting public-private partnerships, which are critical for sustainable economic growth in all sectors, including the forestry sector.
“It is, therefore, encouraging that Mondelēz International’s Cocoa Life programme is partnering with government to implement an integrated landscape approach to sustainable cocoa production and forest management.
“Cocoa Life is a valuable asset to the realisation of the Joint Framework for Action under the Cocoa & Forests Initiative, as it brings on board advanced environmental protection strategies at farmer, community and national levels.”
Since 2013, Cocoa Life has worked with the Ghana Cocoa Board and the UNDP to promote environmentally sustainable production practices while conserving ecosystems and natural resources in cocoa landscapes across Ghana.
Mondelēz International is also a founding member of the Cocoa & Forests Initiative, in which 12 leading cocoa and chocolate companies are partnering to reduce deforestation in the cocoa supply chain.
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