Nestlé and Barry Callebaut, o Belgian-Swiss cocoa processor and chocolate manufacturer, have made a significant agreement to expand agroforestry in cocoa-growing areas. This long-term agreement includes payments for ecosystem services and marks an important step in their shared efforts to combat climate change.

Barry Callebaut and Nestlé have joined forces to implement an agroforestry project that aims to support cocoa farmers and mitigate the impact of climate change. he long-term agreement will roll out 11,500 hectares of agroforestry, including payments for ecosystem services to more than 6,000 farmers in Côte d’Ivoire. The initiative will focus on developing cocoa farms that are more resilient to drought and diseases, have better soil quality, and provide farmers with additional sources of income. The agroforestry project will also allow for the removal of carbon within the companies’ supply chains. Through PES, farmers will be rewarded for carbon removal. The joint partnership supports the companies’ climate-smart cocoa ambitions by aiming to remove up to 1.3 million tons of CO2 over 25 years. The project is fully aligned with Nestlé’s Cocoa Plan, Nestlé’s overarching Net Zero Roadmap, and
Barry Callebaut’s Forever Chocolate plan.

The collaboration will enable the planting of trees on cocoa farms, restoring ecosystems, and removing carbon from the atmosphere. The companies aim to scale up the agroforestry approach by partnering with customers to expand their activities in Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire, and other cocoa origins, creating value for the farmers, restoring ecosystems, and making supply chains more resilient.

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