Cargill reports progress on cocoa supply chain deforestation efforts
Agricultural giant Cargill has reported significant progress in its efforts to prevent deforestation and restore forest areas within its cocoa supply chains in Ghana and Ivory Coast.
Agricultural conglomerate Cargill has announced substantial strides in its initiative to combat deforestation within its cocoa supply chains. The company reported that as of the 2022/2023 crop year, the majority of farmers in its direct supply chains in Ghana and Ivory Coast are now polygon-mapped using GPS.
Since 2017, Cargill has participated in the Cocoa & Forests Initiative (CFI), a collaborative effort with farmers, governments, and other cocoa companies aimed at ending cocoa-related deforestation and restoring forest areas. The company maintains its commitment to ensuring all its agricultural supply chains are deforestation-free.
Progress is closely monitored through precise mapping data and deforestation risk assessments. Cargill employs its in-house GIS software for automatic risk evaluations, overlaying farmer maps with data from Global Forest Watch (GFW) to identify forest loss and implement corrective actions.
The company emphasizes that these measures are also crucial for compliance with the upcoming EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), set to take effect on December 30, 2024. Cargill aims to ensure data reliability and understand the causes of deforestation to develop effective mitigation strategies.
Cargill implements its CFI commitments through its Cargill Cocoa Promise program, which also focuses on enhancing the socio-economic and climate resilience of cocoa farmers, promoting the well-being of children and families, and improving environmental practices.