Cocoa & Forests Initiative (CFI)
Cocoa & Forests Initiative (CFI)
Deforestation of tropical rainforests is a major issue in Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana, which together produce nearly two-thirds of the world’s supply of cocoa. Côte d'Ivoire and Ghana respectively lost 26% and 9.3% of their primary forest between 2002-2020. With a significant portion of deforestation attributable to cocoa farming expansion, collective action to end cocoa-related deforestation was needed.
This is why, at the 2017 UN Climate Change Conference (COP 23), the governments of Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana together with leading chocolate and cocoa companies signed the Cocoa & Forests Initiative (CFI) Frameworks for Action, defining the core commitments and time-bound targets required for a deforestation-free and forest-positive cocoa supply chain.
Barry Callebaut was one of the leading signatories to drive the CFI Frameworks for Action, and we are committed to defining a structural solution to deforestation in the cocoa supply chain in Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana.
In March 2019, we published our Cocoa & Forest Initiative Action Plan which outlined our key activities and priorities for 2018 - 2022. After the successful completion of the collaboration’s first phase, we published in May 2022 a new action plan that sets our targets for CFI 2.0 (2023-2025).
Our key achievements in 2023
In 2023, our efforts in Côte d'Ivoire and Ghana led to notable advances in sustainable cocoa farming and deforestation prevention. Our on-the-ground teams, alongside partners, mapped numerous farms, enhancing traceability and environmental management. We provided extensive technical support to farmers and more than 1.5 million multi-purpose/shade trees were distributed in Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire and over 1 million cocoa seedlings in Ghana to improve crop yields and foster agroforestry. Our focused efforts on community engagement and women's empowerment reinforced our commitment to environmentally sustainable production and strong community support.
This report marks our initial review of the progress against the goals outlined in our CFI Action Plan 2.0.
Learn more about our CFI activities in this report and join us in our mission to drive the necessary transformation within the cocoa sector to make sustainable chocolate the norm.
All CFI activities are in line with our Forever Chocolate targets.
We envision a cocoa industry that is thriving and sustainable, where farmers prosper, communities are empowered, and the environment is protected.
Our CFI 2.0 Action Plan (2023-2025)
Barry Callebaut’s CFI 2.0 Action Plan has been developed in alignment with the national plans of Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire, and it lists the activities we are undertaking. These actions receive technical and financial support from our customers and partners, in order to fulfill our CFI commitments and contribute to our Forever Chocolate goals. Our Action Plan highlights that in addition to striving for full traceability, we are focused on substantially expanding our Agroforestry Program.
The program encompasses Payment for Ecosystem Services (PES), as well as additional efforts towards raising awareness on forest conservation and related regulatory frameworks. Attention is also directed to scaling our support to farmer communities through financial and technical assistance (e.g. VSLAs).
