Ferrero Group achieved its goal of sourcing 100 percent sustainable cocoa at the end of 2020, but the company is continuing to scale its cocoa sustainability efforts under its Ferrero Farming Values Cocoa Programme.

“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.

The Swiss company is launching a new Lindt EXCELLENCE bar with 82% cocoa and 18% Koa Powder.

In its biennial review of the cocoa sector, the VOICE Network found cocoa farming communities are still battling the effects of poverty, child labor and deforestation.

Guittard Chocolate Co. is launching the Cultivate Better cocoa initiative, a new program that engages with cocoa-growing communities to improve and protect unique flavor profiles while also developing integrated community initiatives that yield collaborative impact traceable to the farm level.

In celebration of Women’s Equality Day on Aug. 26, Fairtrade America highlights the progress made by its gender equality initiatives across the globe while continuing to strengthen its role as an ally to women in farming communities.

Though Africa supplies 70 percent of the world’s cocoa, the “statistical equivalent of 0 percent” of the world’s chocolate is produced there, says Tim McCollum, founder of Beyond Good. He's hoping to change that.

Nestlé UK and Ireland will begin sourcing Rainforest Alliance-certified cocoa for the KitKat brand in October 2020 after a decade of sourcing Fairtrade-certified cocoa.

Fairtrade International’s West Africa Programme is training more cocoa farmers, generating greater understanding of Fairtrade Standards and selling more Fairtrade cocoa after intensive training, according to a new report the organization released last week.