Minnesota Ag Connection - Cargill Partners with Imaflora in Brazil Sustainable Cocoa Farming

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Cargill Partners with Imaflora in Brazil Sustainable Cocoa Farming
Minnesota Ag Connection - 03/27/2020

Cargill has partnered with non-profit organization Imaflora to implement two projects which aim to support the production of sustainable cocoa in Pará, Brazil.

Imaflora is a São Paulo-headquartered organization which combats illegal deforestation and educates producers of cocoa products with agricultural best practice techniques, to ensure that cocoa production is sustainable.

Together, Cargill and Imaflora will work together to implement the 'Floresta Produtiva' (Productive Forest) and the 'Farmer Coaching' projects in order to help 150 producers in São Felix do Xingu increase their productivity through environmental conservation actions and healthy agricultural practices.

According to Cargill, the projects will help to restore approximately 740 acres of degraded farmland to increase and diversify revenues of farmers, while over 50 producers will be trained on best-in-class cultivation techniques and efficient use of farming products to meet the standards of sustainable cocoa production.

Laerte Moraes, managing director Cargill Cocoa & Chocolate in Brazil, said: "Everything always comes down to how we create lasting benefits for cocoa farmers, their families and communities.

"We want to empower them to own their futures and achieve their own business success. This aligns with our global sustainability strategy and is part of Cargill's Protect Our Planet Strategic Action Plan.

"We believe in a collective approach in which everyone has a role to play, and we recognize the value of sharing best practice, developing initiatives that complement other people's activities and working closely with key partners who know the local context and culture.

"It is by working together, around projects like Floresta Produtiva and Farmer Coaching, that we will help farmers to prosper as we increase the productivity of sustainable cocoa in Pará."

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