PACTS and Mars commit to sustainable cocoa
PACTS (a Blommer, Petra Foods/Delfi brand, and Cemoi alliance) and Mars have both signed a Memorandum of Understanding confirming their commitment to sustainable cocoa farming in Ivory Coast. Both are convinced that only a long term commitment of the entire cocoa sector will achieve results and they also believe that the farmer is the principal concern of any sustainable cocoa programme.
PACTS (Processor Alliance for Cocoa Traceability and Sustainability) and Mars, with itsVision For Change, have both created programmes based on existing Ivorian cocoa networks; Mars Cocoa Development Centres and PACTS Centres. Both companies agree on the following points:
- The lack of transmission of good farming practices within the cocoa farming world
- The necessity to improve crop yields
- Priority to be given to improving the quality of cocoa beans and farmers livelihoods
- The importance in professionally developing the cocoa network in order to meet global demand.
The mission of this MoU is to create two new centres that will be based on CDC (Cocoa Development Centre) principles, these in turn, will also be applied to two PACTS centres. PACTS and Mars have also agreed upon a communal cooperation for their sustainable development programmes, prioritising:
- Production of quality cocoa beans
- Qualitative training with on-hand demonstrations in the centres
- Correct fertility of land
- Use of quality plant material
- Interaction, reaching a larger number of farmers. In five years time more than 8000 farmers should benefit from the creation of 4 new centres
- Respect and implementation of international work standards and the eradication of child labour.
PACTS and Mars will be sharing their experience and knowledge as PACTS has already created 15 fermentation and drying centres in Ivory Coast and plans to have 25 by 2015. MARS has 13 CDCs and hopes to create a further 25.
