The company stated that it had met its 2011 goal of purchasing 10% of its total cocoa supply as certified sustainable, and in 2012 it will exceed its original target of 20%, making it the largest user of certified cocoa in the world.
Based on current buying arrangements, the company projects that they will purchase nearly 90,000 tonnes of certified cocoa.
Mars believes certification is the best tool industry has to support effective extension services to reach as many of the world’s 5-6 million cocoa farmers as possible and provide them with the material support and organisation they need to be successful.
Estimating that demand for cocoa will outstrip global supply by one million tonnes by 2020, Mars Chocolate has developed a comprehensive strategy to manage this challenge under the guiding principle of putting cocoa farmers first.
Barry Parkin, global procurement and sustainability head for Mars Chocolate, said: “A successful certification programme is so important to our effort because it is the most effective tool we currently have to reach millions of cocoa farmers at scale.
“It took a lot of hard work from farmers, certifiers, and others along the supply chain to meet this milestone, and we are pleased to see their energy paying off.”
Source: Mars
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