Like us, we know you may have concerns about the coronavirus.
COVID-19 has become an extra challenge for cocoa farmers. Also in these difficult times, we are committed to secure the future of chocolate and all people involved.
Cacao-Trace is a sustainable cocoa sourcing programme that focuses on better tasting chocolate, and in the process creates value for all, from farmer to consumer.
Our chocolate is obtained from the highest quality beans, fermented and dried according to strict guidelines. In our post-harvest centres close to cocoa farmers, expert fermenters monitor and improve the fermentation process. This ensures a consistent superior taste for chocolate lovers, and more income for farmers.
Training and premium pricing for cocoa farmers are part of our programme but we are always looking for new ways to improve their lives. With the Chocolate Bonus, we share the value of a higher quality chocolate back: €0.10 per kilo of chocolate sold, goes directly back to the cocoa farming communities we work with.
We celebrated in Ivory Coast the inauguration of Abdoulayekro Primary School which is fully funded by the chocolate bonus distributed in 2018.The students and teachers now work in safe and well-built classrooms with chairs and tables. There is a management office, a fully equipped canteen and new sanitary facilities.
The inauguration of the new school was a moment of joy and hope for the local community, the Cacao-Trace team and our customers. We share the same belief: we can all make progress if we work towards the same goal.
We are delighted to announce our new post-harvest center and the implementation of Puratos’ unique sustainable program in Mexico. It is the first Cacao-Trace program launched in the Americas! After successful installation in Vietnam, Ivory Coast, the Philippines, and Papua New Guinea, this post-harvest center is the fifth in our Cacao-Trace program, which now reaches over 8,000 farmers. With this Cacao-Trace launch, we are continuing to build a true sustainable future for cocoa by focusing on superior taste.
After Vietnam, Ivory Coast, and the Philippines, Cacao-Trace is now also present in Papua New Guinea. The team has successfully adapted the cocoa fermentation process at 60 locally-owned post-harvest centers. The quality of the processed cocoa beans has increased significantly, resulting in chocolate with exceptional taste. The programme already proved its positive impact on the livelihoods of local communities in its first months. As a next step, the Chocolate Bonus will be implemented.
