![\"foret](\"https:\/\/www.kaoka.fr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/28062018-DJI_0035.jpg\")
<\/p>\nAfter 3 years of work, we are proud to be the initiators and co-signatories of a public-private partnership for the conservation and regeneration of ecosystems, protection of biodiversity, and promotion of agroecology in the cocoa industry in Peru, Colombia and Ecuador.<\/p>\n
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“As a matter of fact, for 30 years, we have been working in Latin America to establish partnerships with local cocoa producers. Together, we share the same ambition: to produce excellent cocoa using sustainable techniques, in a spirit of fairness, while preserving ecosystems.<\/strong><\/p>\n But today, the facts are clear: the destruction of primary forests is accelerating and the consequences of this phenomenon on biodiversity are extremely serious. While some actors are content with a pledge to replant trees, we do not subscribe to this \u00abtree-washing\u00bb approach<\/strong>, and we believe that it is urgent to preserve and restore these primary forests and their ecosystems.<\/p>\n Faced with the magnitude of the challenge and its ecological, economic, and social complexity, it was essential for a small family business like ours to join forces with international expert partners.<\/strong> For this reason, this summer we signed a unique partnership with the Alliance of Bioversity International and the International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT), World Agroforestry (ICRAF) and the NGO Conservation International. In this collaboration, each partner, a recognized specialist in its field, will contribute its specific skills and expertise.<\/p>\n An exemplary approach to public-private cooperation, our project is set to be a laboratory for experimenting with the revolution that we must lead<\/strong>. We aim to prove its effectiveness and ability to be scaled out to help protect unique forest ecosystems and carbon reservoirs that are essential to decelerating climate change.<\/p>\n Co-funded by Kaoka and FFEM (French Facility for Global Environment), this \u20ac8.97 million project is fully consistent with the National Strategy to Combat Imported Deforestation (SNDI)<\/strong>, which aims to put an end to the import of forest or agricultural products, including cocoa, that contribute to deforestation. It is, therefore, for the survival of the sector and the future of our producer partners that we renew our commitment today.”<\/p>\n Guy Deberdt, Director General of KAOKA and S\u00e9bastien Balmisse, Director, Sectors and Quality \u2013 RSE Director at Kaoka<\/p>\n <\/p>\n For Kaoka, a familyowned French business specialized in organic fair-trade chocolate, sustainable excellence and environmental protection are not words to be used lightly. In fact, they should be much more than a mere thought. Since its establishment 30 years ago, Kaoka\u2019s commitment to sustainability and environmental protection has been at the forefront of all of its activities. Kaoka is now adding value to its original approach by initiating an ambitiou<\/strong>s ecosystem preservation and regeneration project and promoting agroecological systems in the cocoa industry in Peru, Colombia and Ecuador. The project seeks to promote a \u201ccocoa of excellence\u201d for Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru, three neighboring countries for which cocoa is a symbol of their shared history and riches in terms of both culture and biodiversity.<\/p>\n *CIAT will intervene on behalf of Alliance Bioversity International- CIAT.<\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n The project is supported by the Ministry of Ecological Transition<\/p>\n Launch in July 2021, the project will last 4 years..<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Expertise:<\/strong> mastery of the cocoa industry and cocoa\u2019s organoleptic profiles. <\/p>\n Expertise:<\/strong> deliver research-based solutions that address the global crises of malnutrition, climate change, biodiversity loss, and environmental degradation. With novel partnerships, the Alliance <\/p>\n Expertise:<\/strong> develop research and provide scientific evidence on the benefits of trees for people and the environment. <\/p>\n Expertise:<\/strong> renew cocoa plantations under the agroforestry system, manage deforestation monitoring systems, and sign individual and\/or collective conservation agreements with local farmers. Restore degraded soil and promote planting of aromatic cocoa under agroforestry systems, sign individual and\/or collective conservation agreements with local farmers, and manage deforestation <\/p>\n Implement environmental preservation programs and restore natural resources, promote planting of cocoa under agroforestry systems, sign individual and\/or collective conservation agreements with local farmers, manage deforestation monitoring systems, and promote commercial agreements with sales representatives from the cocoa of excellence sector.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Colpa de Loros cooperative in Peru<\/p>\n Partner cooperatives in Ecuador<\/p>\n Partner cooperatives in Ecuador<\/p>\n The project will aim to establish new profitable commercial opportunities.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n
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<\/h2>\nTowards a sustainable gourmet and zero-deforestation cocoa<\/h2>\n
\nTo this end, Kaoka is collaborating with the Alliance of Bioversity International and the International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT), and World Agroforestry (ICRAF), two CGIAR research centers, as well as with an international NGO specializing in the preservation of natural resources (Conservation International) and local cocoa farmers\u2019 associations.Launched in July 2021, the project is co-financed by the French Facility for Global Environment (FFEM), Kaoka, and the project partners.<\/strong> Together, they will contribute to creating a sustainable cocoa value chain and, most of all, one that is fully tailored to the specific challenges linked to fighting deforestation, restoring soil, preserving biodiversity, and developing the economy in these countries.<\/p>\n
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The objectives of this \u20ac8.97m project<\/h2>\n
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Project partners and their roles<\/h2>\n
Project coordination and technical support<\/h3>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.kaoka.fr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Logo-kaoka.jpg\"){kind=logo}
<\/p>\nKaoka, french company, aromatic and organic fair-trade cocoa specialist<\/h4>\n
\nIts role within the project:<\/strong> provide expertise in a range of fields related to cocoa production, transformation, and commercialization. Kaoka will co-finance the project and will be considered as a technical partner for the coordination, monitoring, and implementation of activities.
\nKaoka will co-chair the steering committee with the Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.kaoka.fr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Logo-alliance-bioversity-ciat.jpg\"){kind=logo}
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Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT, biodiversity, climate change, environment and nutrition research specialists<\/h4>\n
\ngenerates evidence and mainstreams innovations to transform food systems and landscapes so that they sustain the planet, drive prosperity, and nourish people in a climate crisis.
\nIts role within the project:<\/strong> carry out mapping activities, identify native varieties, select crop-specific equipment for the implementation of grafts and nurseries, and codesign conservation plans. CIAT will sign an agreement with FFEM and will be in charge of project coordination and the distribution of funding allocations to local partners.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.kaoka.fr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Logo-world-agroforestry.jpg\"){kind=logo}
<\/p>\nWorld Agroforestry (ICRAF), agroforestry research specialists<\/h4>\n
\nIts role within the project:<\/strong> to assess indigenous communities\u2019 knowledge on agroforestry systems to increase their knowledge base through tailored approaches.<\/p>\nImplementation<\/h3>\n
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Kaoka Foundation (Ecuador)<\/h4>\n
\nKaoka Foundation is a local NGO that receives funding from FFEM and co-finances projects through cocoa fair-trade premiums paid by Kaoka.
\nNote: even though both entities share the same name, Kaoka Foundation is independent from Kaoka.<\/p>\n<\/h4>\n
Biococoa (Peru)<\/h4>\n
\nmonitoring systems.
\nBiococoa is a local NGO that receives funding from FFEM and co-finances projects through cocoa fair-trade premiums paid by Kaoka.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.kaoka.fr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Logo-conservation-international.jpg\"){kind=logo}
<\/p>\nConservation International (Colombia)<\/h4>\n
Cocoa farmers involved in the project<\/h3>\n
Funding partners<\/h3>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.kaoka.fr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Logo-ffem.jpg\"){kind=logo}
<\/p>\nFFEM (French Facility for Global Environment)<\/h4>\n
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