Cargill marks 10 year anniversary in Côte d’Ivoire by partnering with ANADER to fund and develop cocoa production
5 November 2008
Contact: Geraldine O’Shea +44 1932 861174, geraldine_o’shea@cargill.com
Francis De Rosa +44 1932 861174, francis_derosa@cargill.com
COBHAM, UK – To celebrate 10 years of cocoa operations in Côte d’Ivoire, Cargill has announced that it will partner with ANADER, the national agency for rural development, on a series of projects. The partnership is funding and developing 95 cocoa farmer field schools and provides support to 11 cocoa cooperatives in the country. Cargill has been involved in farmer training initiatives since 2003 and with this partnership now trains some 17,000 farmers in Côte d’Ivoire.
“High quality cocoa, grown in a sustainable way, is essential to the economies and livelihoods of farming communities in Côte d’Ivoire, as well as to Cargill, our customers and consumers,” said Greg Page, Cargill chairman and chief executive officer, during a visit to West Africa to celebrate Cargill’s anniversary in Côte d’Ivoire and preside over the opening of a new cocoa processing plant in Ghana. Page was accompanied by David MacLennan, Cargill’s chief financial officer and Leo Winters, head of Cargill’s cocoa operations in West Africa, on a visit to a farmer field school in the San Pedro area of Côte d’Ivoire to see how they operate and meet representatives from ANADER and local authorities.
The partnership with ANADER will provide training for cooperative managers, local farmers and demonstrate best practice in cocoa farming that can lead to higher yields, better quality cocoa and increased incomes.
“In 10 years of operating here, we have seen a significant increase in global demand for high quality cocoa products”, said Leo Winters. “It is because of this demand that we opened our processing plant in Abidjan – that uses the latest technology to produce a wide range of ready-made cocoa products for food and beverage customers worldwide – as well as our two export terminals and three upcountry buying stations. We are working with ANADER and other partners to promote sustainable cocoa farming, improve farmers’ livelihoods and in the process deliver significant benefits to rural communities.”
Cargill participates in a number of projects aimed at supporting and promoting the national cocoa industry. The company is a founding member of the UTZ CERTIFIED sustainability programme that aims to independently certify the sustainability of cocoa farming in the country and work with farmer groups to implement agricultural, social and environmental best practice. Cargill also has a partnership with the European Institute for Cooperation and Development to provide educational opportunities.
Cargill purchases 50 percent of its cocoa beans from co-operatives in Côte d’Ivoire and provides business management and financial advice to them in the Soubré region of the country.
Côte d’Ivoire is the world’s largest producer of cocoa and the crop represents the main source of income for thousands of Ivorians. Cargill now employs 500 people directly and a further 2,000 indirectly, and the company’s plant in Abidjan processes 120,000 metric tonnes of cocoa beans annually into high quality cocoa products including liquor, butter and powder. The products from this plant are shipped worldwide and incorporated by the world’s food industry into finished products without any further reprocessing at destination.
###
Editor’s Notes:
For photos, please contact Wendy Garbutt: wendy_garbutt@cargill.com
Cargill
Cargill is an international provider of food, agricultural and risk management products and services. With 160,000 employees in 67 countries, the company is committed to using its knowledge and experience to collaborate with customers to help them succeed. For more information, visit http://www.cargill.com.
Cargill in West Africa
Cargill has been active in the West African cocoa industry for more than 10 years. The company currently has operations in cocoa processing, originating, trading and warehousing in the region. Cargill’s began its cocoa operations in Côte d’Ivoire in 1998 and production at its cocoa processing plant near Abidjan began in 2000. The company has also just opened its new 65,000 tonne cocoa processing plant in Tema, Ghana, that will now employ 200 people.
Cargill Cocoa and Chocolate
Cargill offers the food industry a wide range of high quality chocolate products; compound coatings, fillings, cocoa powders, butters and liquors.
Cargill operates cocoa and chocolate plants in the Netherlands, Belgium, France, Germany, UK, Brazil, USA and Côte d’Ivoire. Powder, butter and liquor are sold under the brand name “Gerkens”. The Cargill chocolate plants use part of the butter and liquor to produce top quality chocolate for use in a wide range of applications in the food industry including confectionery and bakery. Cargill ranks among the largest processors of cocoa powder in the world. All Cargill cocoa plants pay the highest attention to quality control and food safety.
Cargill sources cocoa beans in a responsible and sustainable manner. Having a presence in all the leading cocoa producing countries enables Cargill to oversee the supply chain from cocoa beans at origin to cocoa and chocolate products on our customers’ doorstep.
ANADER
ANADER is national agency for rural development in Côte d’Ivoire. It aims to contribute to the improvement of the quality of life in rural communities and initiate and support robust and well-organised programmes that bring long-term benefits. For more information, visit: http://www.anader.ci/
