Cocoa was introduced to West Africa through trade with Brazil in the early 19th century, and today the region produces 70% of the global cocoa. West African cocoa is critical to the cocoa industry, to several national economies, and to the lives of millions of cocoa-farming families. For example, the Ivorian cocoa trade accounts for 40% of cocoa globally, 15% of Ivorian GDP, and employs 35% of the households.

West African farm yields are lower than other regions, and maintaining supply has relied on new land. As land availability is limited, cocoa must be farmed from less land through more productive and professional farming methods. Soil has been exhausted of nutrients, and the cacao trees produce low yields with minimal resistance to pests and disease. Effective distribution of fertilizer and planting materials facilitated by credit services, as well as farmer training and reform of land ownership rights, is therefore essential. Cocoa farming has the potential to alleviate poverty and stimulate development, which in turn will benefit the cocoa sector. To achieve this, farming communities require the skills and resources to invest in their farms, community life needs to be sustainable and meet basic human rights, and cocoa must support a quality of life that attracts the farmers of tomorrow. Improvements in education, nutrition, working conditions, health services, water supply and infrastructure are crucial. Furthermore, it is vital that environmental resources, including biodiversity, soil fertility, and forest cover are conserved.

Key facts

• With the initiative, 'Mars Partnership for African Cocoa Communities of Tomorrow', known as iMPACT, Mars launched a unique collaboration with various development organizations and governments of cocoa-producing countries that began in 2007 on through to 2011. The independent social, economic and ecological development of communities is a key issue promoted by iMPACT, and this could be ensured long-term above all through more productive and profitable cocoa farms.
• Mars is committed to improve the living conditions of cocoa farmers and their families. Through our participation in the Sustainable Tree Crops Program (STCP), a public-private partnership between the cocoa and chocolate industry and affected governments, we contribute to successfully promoting farmers' organizations and cooperatives that lead to helping farmers achieve better prices for their cocoa.
• Mars is supporting the Farmer Field School Program, an educational platform in West & Central Africa, East Asia and Latin America. The program teaches smallholders and their families about preventive health and safety precautions in their farm operations, and they are made aware of how important a school education is for the future of their children. The Farmer Field Schools are also aimed at systematically training farmers towards applying improved cultivation methods. Thereby, the average income has already increased by 30 to 40 percent.