GrowCocoa releases achievement report

GrowCocoa, the independently operated joint venture represents the sustainability interests of Blommer Chocolate Company and Olam International. On 16 October, it released its first report which outlines its accomplishments in C?te d’Ivoire and Indonesia. The JV, which is based in Washington, D.C., works with more than 41,900 farmers.

Set up in 2012 after a decade of collaboration and shared investment of over US$25 million, the GrowCocoa ensures the continued and regular engagement with for- and not-for-profit and national and international institutions that share the sustainability and livelihoods vision of Blommer and Olam.

As North America’s largest cocoa processor and ingredient chocolate supplier, Blommer first collaborated with Olam International, global agri-business supplier, in Indonesia in 2004. To help elevate quality and livelihoods, the two companies established the SAFOB (Sulawesi Alliance of Farmer Olam & Blommer) programme. From 2,000 farmers, the network has quickly grown to over 15,100 today. The programme’s success resulted in recognition from the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and the appointment as the cocoa-implementing partners for the Agribusiness Market & Support Activity (AMARTA). Between 2006 and 2011, independently verified data showed that many farmers’ yields doubled as they gained direct access to exporters with the establishment of 11 Blommer/Olam upcountry buying centres.

During this period, the partnership expanded to C?te d’Ivoire with the start of the CIFOB (C?te d’Ivoire Farmers Olam & Blommer) programme. Starting with just 6 cooperatives and 2,400 farmers, the network has increased to 87 cooperatives and over 26,800 farmers in just seven years.

The partnership has since ensured improved access to healthcare for some 29,000 community members. So far the social infrastructure projects have included two dispensaries, a maternity ward, a medical laboratory, and three schools offering 450 children access to education.

Now centralised under GrowCocoa, the partnership reports the following highlights for the 2012-2013:

-31,600 farmers trained in Good Agricultural Practices and Integrated Pest Management

-329 cooperative managers trained in efficient budgetiAdidas NMD R1