Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana, along with leading chocolate and cocoa companies, are releasing action plans to end deforestation in the cocoa sector and restore forest areas.

The Hershey Co. has announced a new package of environmental initiatives and commitments, including establishing a new comprehensive environmental policy, signing the United Nations Global Compact and joining the Science Based Targets initiative.

Fairtrade International is raising the prices it will pay for conventional and organic cocoa next fall after world cocoa prices dropped by more than a third last year.

Dutch confectionery company Tony’s Chocolonely, retailer Albert Heijn and chocolate manufacturer Barry Callebaut have partnered to work toward ending child labor and modern slavery in the chocolate industry.

Mars, Inc. and the Rainforest Alliance, in partnership with Touton and the Grameen Foundation, have launched in Ghana SAT4Farming, an initiative using digital technology and satellite imagery to guide farmers over a seven-year period.

Swiss cocoa and chocolate products manufacturer Barry Callebaut continues to make strides toward sustainable cocoa farming. 

Alongside leading cocoa and chocolate companies, Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana have adopted new standards to end deforestation and restore forest areas, the countries and companies announced Thursday.

Lutheran World Relief (LWR) has launched an online map documenting flavor profiles of cocoa produced by the nonprofit humanitarian organization’s farmer and cooperative partners.

Indonesian cocoa farmers who adopted good agricultural practices through Mondelez International’s Cocoa Life program saw average cocoa yields grow by 10 percent  in 2016, the confectionery and snack giant announced Tuesday.

Cargill has sketched out five sustainability objectives it will pursue over the next 13 years through the Cargill Cocoa Promise, the company’s five-year-old cocoa sustainability program.