Cargill has expanded the processing capabilities of its sweetener plant in Cikande, Indonesia, to more than double the company’s production capacity for organic, non-GMO tapioca syrup.

CARE, in collaboration with Cargill and The Starbucks Foundation, is launching a new effort designed to support cocoa-growing communities in Côte d’Ivoire, building on decades of CARE’s experience in developing Village Saving and Loans Associations.

Sustainability considerations now influence the majority of the world’s grocery shoppers when buying packaged foods, according to Cargill’s most recent global FATitudes survey.

Cargill will install dry palm fractionation capacity at the facility, enabling the production of specialty fats for use in chocolates, coatings, fillings, compounds and other applications.

Cargill’s activities in Côte d’Ivoire span more than two decades, including the opening of the Yopougon plant in 2000.

Pending regulatory approval and closing conditions, the acquisition will expand Cargill’s footprint in the Asia-Pacific region.

Cargill has entered into a multi-year research agreement with AeroFarms, a leader in controlled environment agriculture, aimed at improving cocoa bean yields and developing more climate-resistant agricultural practices.

“In developing our new Signature Origins products, we searched the cocoa-growing regions of the world to bring chefs chocolate with unique flavor profiles that truly stand apart from current gourmet offerings,” said Wim Bastiaens, Cargill’s gourmet and distribution director.