Cocoa Horizons, Ghana, Barry Callebaut
Barry Callebaut is expanding its Cocoa Horizons sustainability program to more farmers in Ghana.

ZURICH, SWITZERLAND — Barry Callebaut, one of the world’s largest cocoa producers, is expanding its Cocoa Horizons sustainability program to more farmers in Ghana. The program’s goal is to improve the way cocoa farmers live in Ghana.

Launched in late 2015, the Cocoa Horizons program applies to the production of cocoa, as well as to the people who farm the cocoa. The program seeks to teach important life skills such as good agricultural, environmental and social practices. The end goal of the program is to prevent a cocoa shortage in the future and to ensure that cocoa farming is a successful and profitable market, Barry Callebaut said.

Currently, there are 7,500 farmers enrolled in the Cocoa Horizons program. By 2017 this number is expected to increase to over 22,000 people. A total of 650,000 Ghana Cedis ($163,000) will be distributed to the current 7,500 people enrolled in the program.

Nicko Debenham, Barry Callebaut
Nicko Debenham, vice-president of Barry Callebaut
“Barry Callebaut is committed to the realization of a sustainable cocoa sector in Ghana and other origin countries,” said Nicko Debenham, vice-president of Barry Callebaut. “Leveraging our presence with Nyonkopa, we can provide access to sustainability training in the areas of productivity enhancement, community development and farm services to an even greater number of cocoa farmers in Ghana.”