Ghana’s cocoa receives a boost

The World Cocoa Foundation (WCF) and chocolate maker TCHO are collaborating to introduce innovations and quality improvements to cocoa grown in Ghana. This will take the form of a Flavour Lab located at the Cocoa Research Institute of Ghana (CRIG) and on-farm extension work. The project’s goal is to demonstrate to farmers the direct link between quality at the farm level and increased value for their products.

The lab will include a sensory panel that will be trained in objective flavour evaluation, an invaluable tool for commercialisation and research based on flavour characteristics. Farmers will learn by tasting chocolate from their own beans, usually for the first time, how product quality depends on good fermentation and drying methods.

Bill Guyton, WCF president, says, “We are proud to partner with TCHO to bring this innovative program to Ghana.  We’ll build upon Ghana’s strong cocoa culture, by improving flavour and value, and will be able to reinvest increased quality back into cocoa communities.”

“TCHO is honoured to partner with the Cocoa Research Institute of Ghana and the World Cocoa Foundation to help make a difference for cocoa farmers in West Africa,” says John Kehoe , vice president, sourcing and development for TCHO.

The project will work with approximately 7,000 farmers throughout Ghana’s cocoa producing region and contributes to the goals WCF’s African cocoa initiative, a $14 million, five year partnership between WCF, cocoa industry members, the Sustainable Trade Initiative (IDH), and the US Government’s Feed the Future initiative.