Barry Callebaut training cocoa farmers in Cameroon

Aug. 20, 2012, Switzerland – Barry Callebaut has begun training members
of five farmer co-operatives in the central region of Cameroon to enable
them to become independently certified by Rainforest Alliance.

Aug. 20, 2012, Switzerland – Barry Callebaut has begun training members of five farmer co-operatives in the central region of Cameroon to enable them to become independently certified by Rainforest Alliance. Approximately 1,000 farmers will receive training in the next 12 months. This is an extension of the collaboration between Barry Callebaut and the prominent independent certification body that began in Ivory Coast in 2010.

"We see a great opportunity to start work with farmer organizations and producers in Cameroon who are interested in improving yields and quality by growing cocoa in a sustainable way," said Nicholas Camu, group manager of Cocoa Horizons. "It's the first time these farmer groups are taking a serious look at the potential benefits of training to achieve certification. We're proud to be collaborating with the Rainforest Alliance to help enable these pioneering cooperatives reach their ambitious sustainability goals."

Cocoa Horizons is Barry Callebaut's cocoa sustainability initiative, which launched in March 2012. It is designed to boost farm productivity, increase quality and improve family livelihoods in key cocoa producing countries in West and Central Africa, Indonesia and Brazil over the next 10 years.

Barry Callebaut staff in Cameroon will deliver the training in Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) and provide support in setting up internal control systems and improving administrative procedures at the cooperatives, with support of the Rainforest Alliance.

"We are pleased to be working with Barry Callebaut and Cameroon farmers on this ground-breaking and challenging new venture – the first comprehensive training program to be launched in Cameroon with farmers who aspire to achieve the sustainability standards of Rainforest Alliance certification," said Eric Servat, senior manager of the cocoa program at the Rainforest Alliance.