Cocoa

This study was carried out by AidEnvironment, serving the dual purpose of demonstrating UTZ’s contribution to positive change on farms and the cocoa sector, as well as creating a deeper understanding of how UTZ can increase its impact in the future.

In this first-ever SAN/Rainforest Alliance Impacts Report, we summarize the effects of SAN/Rainforest Alliance farmer training and certification through an exhaustive review of nearly two dozen scientific studies and the audit data from over 200 certified farms and farmer groups. After presenting a global snapshot of the scope and geographic distribution of certified farms, the […]

UTZ Certified and Solidaridad have been partners in a cocoa programme in Ghana since 2010 with the collaboration of producer groups, licenced buying companies, traders and non-governmental organisations. They aim to improve smallholder cocoa productivity, incomes, working conditions and the environment. The programme started with training, then added inputs. The groups were certified for the […]

Aztecs and Mayans first created xocolatl, a hot chocolate drink often mixed with vanilla or chili peppers. Cocoa beans were so highly valued, they were used as money until the 1800s. Ecuador was once the primary producer of cocoa, but today about 80 percent is grown in the West African nations of Côte d’Ivoire and […]

The study highlights the need of improvements, both possible and necessary. The revised UTZ code of conduct approved in June 2014, already addresses some of these areas of improvement. Gender and inclusiveness – Women and youths represent about half of the work force on cocoa farms and yet the report found they were not being […]