Mondelēz International pledges to reduce emissions in Ghana

Mondelēz International has signed an agreement with the Forestry Commission of Ghana, Ghana Cocoa Board and United Nations Development Programme to reinforce its commitment to reduce emissions in its cocoa supply chain in the country.

Through Cocoa Life, Mondelēz’s sustainable cocoa sourcing programme, the company said it will “take a leading role” in implementing projects to deliver the Ghana Cocoa Forest REDD+ Programme (GCFRP), which aims at tackling deforestation.

Ghana supplies about 20% of the world’s cocoa. According to the GCFRP, it also has one of the highest deforestation rates in Africa, which is primarily due to unsustainable expansion of cocoa and other agricultural crops.

Mondelēz International is contributing $5 million over five years to the GCFRP. It said it will focus on implementing climate smart cocoa practices to increase yields and sustainability and improve access to finance to foster good practices by farmers and communities.

President of Mondelēz International’s Europe division, Hubert Weber, said: “Deforestation makes up the largest part of our carbon footprint, which is why it’s so important for us to address this issue head on. Through this collaboration, we can be even more efficient in safeguarding the environment and helping cocoa farmers become resilient against climate change.

“This partnership builds on Cocoa Life’s ongoing forest protection efforts. It’s an exciting new chapter in our work in Ghana and fits with the commitment we made by signing the Cocoa & Forests Initiative Framework for Action at COP23.”

Peter Amewu, Ghana minister for lands and natural resources, added: “The Ghana government is promoting public-private partnerships, which are critical for sustainable economic growth in all sectors, including the forestry sector. It is, therefore, encouraging that Mondelēz International’s Cocoa Life programme is partnering with government to implement an integrated landscape approach to sustainable cocoa production and forest management.

“Cocoa Life is a valuable asset to the realisation of the joint framework for action under the Cocoa & Forests Initiative, as it brings on board advanced environmental protection strategies at farmer, community and national levels.”

The news follows on from Mondelēz’s agreement last year with governments in West Africa to minimise deforestation in its supply chain.