OUR COCOA PROJECT

Do you know where your cocoa actually comes from? What are you doing to help cocoa farmers?

We get these questions a lot and they are totally justified. One thing is certain, we know lots of cocoa farmers. We have been working with their co-operatives for decades. We know how the cocoa is farmed and what the conditions are like at cocoa plantations in the Dominican Republic. We know about the great benefits of organic farming and we set ourselves the goal of always doing business in a way that is fair. But, despite this, we keep asking ourselves one critical question:

Do we really know the needs and wants of our local partners? And, if the answer is yes, do we cater to them?

What are they passionate about? What do they expect from us as a western chocolate producer? What irritates them? What are their worries, fears and wishes?
We know that there are a lot of expectations that we simply cannot meet. The colonial shadow that has been cast over cocoa remains too great, even some 500 years later. Being aware of this is both unsettling and shaming.

A different question: What debt do we owe for the brutal exploitation of the “New World” by western explorers back in the 16th century? The answer: We don’t owe any debt. But we do have a great responsibility to not forget this past and to work to expose and overcome the power structures, dependencies and associated socialised racism that has grown from this history. It begins with the little things… How quick we, as a chocolate producer, have been to talk about “our” cocoa producers in the past. It is a small error perhaps, but it has broad semantic consequences. No, the farmers don’t belong to us. They don’t work for us – they are not part of our company. We rely on them, as they grow a raw material that we cannot grow here. On paper, it is a classic supplier relationship; but sadly this one has clear historic undertones. It is only when we are brave enough to recognise this fact that we can take the first steps to change it for good.

with a colonial shadow side

Chocolate – a western luxury

The legacy of colonialism weighs heavy. Chocolate is a western luxury. Our western forefathers once brought back foreign goods like cocoa and coffee from their colonial conquests in order to expand our “white” luxury in the west. Even now, there are lots of cocoa farmers in Latin America who have never even tasted chocolate. Our task – in our privileged role – is to change people’s perspectives, so that we don’t see everything through a “western” lens. Listening rather than blind activism. Understanding rather than observing. Coming up with solutions together, not prescribing them. “Help to help themselves” rather than western heroism. It is all important. It is the only way to work as equal partners and to improve the local structures in the places where the locals really want to see improvements and where these improvements are urgently necessary. This “understanding” is the key to a modern partnership that overcomes the old give-take structures and provides opportunities for greater equality and fairness.

OUR COCOA PROJECT

LISTENING, UNDERSTANDING, SUPPORTING

Besides consistently purchasing certified Fairtrade, organic cocoa, it is vital to get involved at the local level and to maintain a constant dialogue with producers. The “Sustainable Organic Cocoa Project” is a first important step in this direction. We have been running this project in the Dominican Republic together with our production partner – the Weinrich chocolate factory – and the Fuparoca Foundation since 2020.

The Dominican Republic is the origin country of iChoc cocoa and is one of the most important countries for organic cocoa in the world. But, even in the Dominican Republic, there remain a lot of old wounds and we need to play our part in helping to heal them. As such, the project doesn’t just focus on ecology, but also addresses social issues. We are working closely with 150 participating families of farmers in the eastern part of the country (in the El Seibo, Hato Mayor and La Altagracia provinces) to try and improve the situation locally and to improve the everyday lives of the people that live there. Together we are building water tanks on the cocoa farms and fitting them with filters to provide safe drinking water. We are also offering support regarding the organic production of fertilisers and pesticides. This doesn’t just help to protect the environment; it also benefits the health of all the locals. Together we are growing nurseries and offering support with new planting and with the rehabilitation of cocoa farms containing very old, low-yielding trees. Over the long term this will increase productivity and, with it, the income of the producers. Meanwhile, the Bio Siegel (German organic seal) and Fairtrade programme represent further important building blocks when it comes to improving general living standards in the cocoa-growing regions.

We were extremely enthusiastic when we launched the project; today we are realistic. There is so much more to be done and a lot of the work will only lead to noticeable improvements over the long term. We need to show patience and courage, and keep going. We are still fully convinced of the importance of our work. But we know that it is vital to have direct contact and to be in direct dialogue with our partners on the ground, so that we can achieve real positive results over the long term. We want to empower the producers and, in doing so, to produce honest, fair and sustainable chocolate.