Nestlé and Olam Food Ingredients (ofi) have launched their largest global agroforestry partnership to date, aiming to transform cocoa farming across Brazil, Côte d’Ivoire, and Nigeria. Over the next five years, the initiative will support approximately 25,000 cocoa farmers in adopting climate-smart practices, including agroforestry and crop residue management. The program plans to convert over 72,000 hectares of cocoa farms into agroforestry systems by planting an estimated 2.8 million trees, with third-party verification from nursery to farm. This effort is projected to reduce more than 1.5 million tons of CO₂ emissions by 2055, contributing to both companies’ sustainability goals.

The partnership builds on a 15-year collaboration between Nestlé and ofi in sustainable cocoa sourcing. It supports Nestlé’s Cocoa Plan and 2050 Net Zero Roadmap, as well as ofi’s Cocoa Compass and Choices for Change sustainability strategies. Key components of the program include training farmers in sustainable farming techniques, such as planting shade trees and managing cocoa husk residues to improve soil health and reduce emissions. Farmers will also receive financial incentives for planting and maintaining forest trees, encouraging long-term participation. The initiative emphasizes compliance with standards like the African Regional Sustainability Standard (ARS) and the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), aiming to strengthen the resilience of the global cocoa supply chain.