Let’s be honest—cocoa farming isn’t all sunshine and chocolate fountains. For many cocoa farmers, it’s more like a never-ending struggle with low yields, aging cocoa trees, and the unpredictable effects of climate change. Add to that the issues of child labor, human rights abuses, and poor infrastructure, and you’ve got a recipe for some serious challenges. Enter Cocoa Horizons, the superhero of the cocoa world—minus the cape (but with a lot of heart and determination).

Since 2015, the Cocoa Horizons Foundation, backed by Barry Callebaut, has been on a mission to turn these challenges into opportunities. Operating across seven cocoa-growing countries, the foundation is doing what any good superhero organization would: saving the day for farmers, protecting nature, and making sure children get to be… well, children.

Empowering Farmers: Turning Cocoa Challenges Into Sweet Success

Cocoa farming is tough. You’ve got farmers trying to make a living while battling against all the odds, from terrible harvests to climate chaos. But Cocoa Horizons isn’t just sitting around sipping cocoa lattes. No, they’ve been working side-by-side with farmers, offering practical solutions and a whole lot of support.

One of the highlights from the 2023 mid-year report is the 24% increase in the adoption of Farm Business Plans (FBPs). These plans aren’t just about penciling in the occasional “prune the cocoa trees” reminder. They’re helping farmers optimize their yields, boost their incomes, and—let’s face it—put the “prosperity” back in “prospering farmers.” The word is out: farmers are realizing that a little planning goes a long way in turning cocoa farms into thriving, productive, money-making machines.

In fact, more farmers are warming up to pre-harvest support too. No, it’s not a fancy new yoga routine for cocoa trees (although that would be fun to watch). This is about providing farmers with timely labor support—think pruning, soil care, and other labor-intensive tasks—right before the rainy season. The result? Bigger yields and happier farmers.

And speaking of happy farmers, let’s talk about Village Savings and Loans Associations (VSLAs). If you haven’t heard of these, you might think they’re some kind of new dance craze. But no, they’re actually empowering farmers (especially women—75% of VSLA members, to be exact) by giving them access to loans for income-generating activities. In fact, VSLA membership has soared by a staggering 256% this year! Talk about financial empowerment—it’s like a savings account, but with more community spirit and less interest.

Tackling Child Labor: More Than Just a "Nice Idea"

It’s hard to imagine a future without child labor in cocoa production, but Cocoa Horizons is determined to make that future a reality. Traditional child labor monitoring systems have been… well, a little like putting a Band-Aid on a leaky faucet. But here’s the twist: Cocoa Horizons has turned the whole approach on its head by tackling the root causes of child labor (poverty, lack of education, etc.) and strengthening local child protection systems.

In 2023, 98% of the farmer groups in Cocoa Horizons’ direct supply chain are now covered by child labor monitoring and remediation activities. Not just monitoring, mind you—this is a full-on community-based approach designed to make sure that children are, you know, actually in school, not in the cocoa fields. The ultimate goal? A cocoa industry where kids can focus on their future—whether that’s becoming the next chocolate maker, or the next astronaut (fingers crossed for both).

Protecting Nature: Because Chocolate Deserves a Healthy Planet

Here’s where the magic happens. Cocoa farming isn’t just about farmers and communities; it’s also about the planet. Cocoa Horizons is committed to making sure that the cocoa industry doesn’t come at the expense of nature. The foundation is going for a deforestation-free supply chain, and they’re making some serious strides.

With 87% traceability across their cocoa farms, Cocoa Horizons is well on track to meet the European Union’s Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) by 2025. That’s right—thanks to the detailed data on farmers, their farm locations, and practices, Cocoa Horizons is keeping cocoa supply chains as clean as a cocoa bean freshly picked from the tree (which, let’s face it, is pretty clean).

Agroforestry is another big win. Cocoa farmers are learning how to integrate trees into their farming systems—creating shade for their cocoa trees, enhancing biodiversity, and improving carbon sequestration. In short, they’re making the world a little greener, one cocoa farm at a time.

But wait—there’s more! Cocoa Horizons has trained over 23,000 farmers on environmental protection, helping them to enhance their farming practices while also protecting the land that sustains them. The goal? A sustainable future where both cocoa and nature can thrive together.