The income of our growers depends not only on the selling prices of cocoa, but also on the amount of cocoa they can produce, so we need a more far-reaching approach. Kaoka combines several activities that focus on improving socio-economic conditions for our growers:
Our partnerships with cocoa growers have a minimum duration of three years
(but in reality, our cocoa programs in Ecuador and Sao Tome have been in place for nearly 20 years!)
We help growers to renovate their plantations so that productivity improves year after year!
Kaoka is committed to buy cocoa at higher prices than market prices and that are negotiated directly with growers (not the cooperative).
Kaoka is committed to buy 100% of cocoa produced by its partner growers.
In the early 2000s, when we realised that the majority of cocoa trees were ageing and causing production to decline, we knew we had to act quickly. Declining crop yields threaten the livelihood of growers and, in the long term, our cocoa supply.
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1 Why do cocoa trees no longer produce? Most cocoa trees were planted in the 1970s, when chocolate became a popular commodity. However, cocoa trees only produce cocoa for about 40 years. In response to the problem of ageing cocoa plantations, many hybrid varieties have been developed that are highly productive but less aromatic and require copious amounts of water and fertiliser to grow.
These varieties do not meet our quality standards and are not a sustainable option for growers. -
2 Years of agricultural research We had to find another solution to protect the future livelihoods of our growers and preserve high-quality aromatic cocoa varieties.
It has taken us ten years of agricultural research in partnership with volunteer farms to develop an efficient renovation method.
So how does it work? We select the best tree stock nature has to offer and use it to restore living trees. -
3 An innovative solution to grow profitable high-quality cocoa During our years of research, we have been selecting cocoa trees in partnership with volunteer growers, based on select criteria: productivity, resistance and aromatic qualities.
These trees are multiplied by grafting and grown in nurseries. This gives growers a reserve of “premium” plants they can use to increase tree density on their farms (i.e. to fill empty spaces and optimise their farmland). Best of all, these plants can be grafted on old unproductive cocoa trees. This process gives the tree a second life, drawing on the strength of a mature and efficient root system. -
4 Ongoing support and training for cocoa growers Over the years, we have put together a collection of plants in each location. We continue to develop our tree catalogue based on feedback from our partner cocoa growers based on their real-world experience.
At Kaoka we put an emphasis on knowledge and skill sharing. We offer our partner growers regular guidance and training in high-performance agricultural techniques. We also provide teams of technicians to support the growers and answer any questions.
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The plantations’ renovation has many beneficial impacts, it allows:
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significantly increase cocoa yields (and therefore income).
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reduce deforestation by helping growers to make the most of their pre-existing farmland.
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ensure the future supply of premium cocoa, which over time develops richer flavours and aromas.
La prise en compte de ces nouvelles réalités est importante dans la rénovation des plantations car nous sélectionnons désormais des variétés de cacao résilientes, plus résistantes à la sécheresse par exemple.
Taking these new realities into account is important when renovating plantations because we can select cocoa varieties that are more resilient, resistant to drought or to other climate factors.
We can help growers face these new challenges by offering training programmes that promote agroforestry and agro-ecological practices (compost production, soil restoration, etc.).
Agroforestry involves growing trees alongside other types of crops or even raising livestock. We promote diverse agroforestry systems composed of many different species to improve biodiversity.
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the upper stratum Trees 25 to 35 meters highComposed of noble and local tree species with slow growth, making it possible to create controlled permanent shade which protects the cocoa from climatic hazards and regenerates the organic matter of the soil.
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the middle stratum Trees 9 to 24 meters highComposed mainly of fruit trees, it provides growers with the opportunity for additional income. They are also home to a wealth of biodiversity (especially birds).
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the lower stratum Trees 1 to 8 meters highCocoa trees grow in this stratum with other varieties such as banana, papaya, pepper and vanilla. Growers can diversify their crops to ensure a stable income all year round.
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the ground layer Plants 0 to 1 meter highComposed of leguminous plants that enrich the soil, as well as providing additional income for growers.
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Agroforestry has many positive impacts. It:
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improves the use of resources on plots and subsequently their yields.
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provides additional income to growers thanks to subsistence crops.
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protects crops against climatic hazards (drought or flooding) due to the positive role played by trees in filtering water in the soil.
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fights against deforestation by restoring deteriorated soils and thus avoiding the exploitation of new soils.
trees planted in association with our partner growers since 2018, as part of the agroforestry and renovation programs for plantations covering 820 hectares.
hectares of agroforestry created
crops combined with cocoa identified by Kaoka