Mars is moving from setting broad sustainability targets to focusing on generational resilience around cocoa farming productivity and diversifying climate-smart cocoa production as cocoa prices fluctuate, according to its 2025 Cocoa for Generations report.
Cocoa prices have fallen sharply since record highs two years ago, according to Trading Economics data. Cocoa traded at roughly $5,616 per metric ton on Sept. 17, less than half the all-time high of $12,906 per ton in December 2024.
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In 2018, Mars launched Cocoa for Generations with a $1 billion, 10-year commitment to transform its cocoa supply chain. As one of the world’s largest confectionery manufacturers, Mars reports it largely met its goals around sourcing, child-labor monitoring and women’s empowerment.
In 2025, Mars said 98% of its cocoa volume was covered by its Responsibly Sourced Cocoa program, which is just below its 100% target. It also said it “fell slightly short” of its 100% sourcing and deforestation-free targets due to a volatile cocoa market. Per the report, 98% of Mars’ cocoa volumes were not linked to deforestation or the conversion of other natural ecosystems, 98% were traceable to farmers and 95% were traceable to mapped polygons (digitally mapped boundaries of farms using GPS coordinates).
On labor monitoring, the company positioned low farmer incomes as a key contributor to wider supply-chain challenges. It argues that creating stronger household livelihoods is imperative in mitigating child labor risks and securing resilient future cocoa supplies.
Last year, 282,340 farmers participated in Mars’ responsible sourcing program. The company reported that 100% of cocoa volume produced and bought via its West African responsible sourcing program was covered by Child Labor Monitoring and Remediation Systems. While its Women for Change Initiative reached 106,239 Village Savings and Loan Association members, with roughly 77% of those members being women.
The company identified climate change, farmer incomes, pests and diseases as major threats to cocoa supply. To address those risks, Mars’ next strategy will invest in professionalizing cocoa farming and climate-smart and regenerative farming practices. Its new program, Journey to Thrive, reached 9,334 farming households in Côte d’Ivoire. Separately, Mars invested in the distribution of more than 5.15 million trees in Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana as part of its agroforestry and climate-resilience initiatives last year.
Key technologies around productivity and cloning
Mars’ next phase of cocoa sustainability will rely more heavily on technologies and productivity, including AI-powered farming tools and climate-resilient planting varieties.
Among these investments, the company is implementing Cocoascan, an AI tool that identifies cocoa diseases and pests earlier, and Cocoa Fresh AI, which assesses cocoa bean quality and improves traceability efforts.
New cocoa clones and varieties will also be deployed in countries including Brazil and Indonesia to increase yields and improve resistance to climate stress, pests and disease without expanding production into forests, according to the report.
The two clones (in partnership with Indonesia Natoinal Research & Innovation Agency), ISC1 and SCC11, achieved yields of up to 2.65 tons per hectare in controlled environments. Mars says ISC1 is Indonesia’s first self-compatible cocoa clone, while SCC11 delivers higher fat content that could improve quality and processing efficiency. The company argues these varieties could increase yields and improve bean quality.
In Brazil, the Mars Center for Cocoa Science registered 37 high-productivity, disease resistant cocoa clones in partnership with Brazil’s agricultural ministry, according to the company.
