As one of the world’s largest buyers of cocoa for chocolate, the center will enable Mondelēz to develop and promote better cocoa farming practices, continuing its work with farming communities, suppliers and partners around the world.
“Cocoa is at the heart of chocolate, and demand is growing, with Asia set to become the second-largest consumer of cocoa ingredients. Mondelēz International is determined to meet that demand in the right way by creating a thriving cocoa sector,” said Maurizio Brusadelli, Executive Vice President and President, Asia, Middle East and Africa for Mondelēz International.
“Consumers also expect more from their favourite brands like Cadbury Dairy Milk and Milka chocolate. People want delicious snacks they feel good about eating, know where ingredients come from and produced in ways that are better for the environment and communities. We need to secure a sustainable future for high-quality cocoa and other raw materials we use to create the snacks our consumers love.”
Sustainable, scalable cocoa
The investment in the Pasuruan Cocoa Technical Center focuses on cocoa crop science research and development. It supports sustainable, scalable cocoa farming practices and will work in partnership with Mondelēz International’s global cocoa sustainability program, Cocoa Life.
“We’re on a mission to drive positive change by creating a future of sustainable snacking and that includes using our global scale to create meaningful, lasting impact,” said Rob Hargrove, Executive Vice President, Research, Development and Quality for Mondelēz International.
“The Pasuruan Cocoa Technical Center is our global home for cocoa crop science initiatives. It brings local and international cocoa crop science experts together with farmers and suppliers in the cocoa growing areas of Sulawesi, Sumatra, and East Java. Our scientists can go from the labs at the center to field sites where we have research collaborations and on-farm activities through Cocoa Life.”
The center’s focus on cocoa crop science and technical solutions that support high-yielding, sustainable and resilient farming practices is part of a commitment to the company’s 2025 goal of sourcing 100% of cocoa for chocolate through Cocoa Life. The company said it is on track to meet that target with 63% of cocoa for its chocolate brands currently sourced through Cocoa Life.
