Mondelez and Callebaut up cocoa sustainability efforts

Mondelez yesterday announced a 3-year deal with the Peace Corp to promote sustainable development in cocoa growing communities in the Dominican Republic.

The project, part of Mondelez’s 400m 10-year Cocoa Life Program,  aims to teach 1,200 young men and women business skills and consult with 120 entrepreneurs on how to develop their business.

Christine M. McGrath, Vice President of External Affairs and Cocoa Life at Mondelez said: “Armed with this new business expertise, these entrepreneurs will be empowered to initiate their own businesses and establish more diversified, stable and inclusive economies.”​

This week, Barry Callebaut also launched its Cocoa Horizons Truck project – a mobile training unit that will reach 10,000 farmers in its first year.

The mobile unit is powered by solar energy and will provide farmer training, basic health care and education to farmer cooperatives in the Ivory Coast on Callebaut’s Quality Partner Program.