Ofi sets new sustainability targets for cocoa farming regeneration
Global ingredients company aims to bring over one million hectares under regenera-tive agriculture practices by 2030, focusing on agroforestry and landscape partnerships to enhance environmental protection across cocoa-growing regions.
New regenerative agriculture targets for cocoa
Olam food ingredients (ofi) has announced ambitious new sustainability targets for its cocoa business, aiming to achieve seven landscape partnerships and convert more than one million hectares to regenerative agriculture practices by 2030. The targets form part of the company’s wider Choices for Change strategy, which emphasises environmental protection and sustainable farming methods.
The announcement coincides with the publication of ofi’s 2023 Cocoa Compass Impact Report, detailing progress in sustainable cocoa production across its supply chain.
Progress in agroforestry implementation
Since establishing its 2018 baseline, ofi reports significant advancement in sustainable agriculture practices:
• Distribution of 8.9 million trees through agroforestry programmes
• Rehabilitation of 57,000 hectares of agricultural land
• Training of 970,000 farmers in good agricultural practices
Technical innovation in erosion prevention
The company is implementing novel agricultural techniques, including Sloping Agriculture Land Technology (SALT) in Indonesia. This system integrates cocoa trees with fruit trees, timber species and food crops to create root networks that stabilise hillside soils and prevent erosion. The technique is being tested across 20 hectares in partnership with Mars and the German Development Cooperation (GIZ).
Andrew Brooks, Head of Cocoa Sustain-ability at ofi, said: “Greater action and urgency will be needed to address climate change and protect nature and farmer livelihoods in the years to come. Since the launch of Cocoa Compass in 2019, we have now published four years of data and insights from our cocoa sustainability programs, partnerships, and tools, which we are using to raise our regenerative agriculture ambition.”
Focus on landscape-level interventions
The company emphasises the importance of collective action in achieving meaningful environmental impact. Building on existing partnerships like RESTORE and LASCARCOCO, ofi plans to develop additional multi-stakeholder landscape partnerships that extend beyond individual programmes.
Tree carbon stock targets
Supporting these initiatives is a specific target to plant 15 million trees by 2030 through the company’s cocoa business. This forms part of ofi’s broader strategy to maximise agroforestry implementation across its cocoa-growing regions.
The new targets reflect increasing scientific evidence supporting the benefits of regenerative agriculture in tropical commodity production. By integrating multiple crop species and emphasising soil health, these systems aim to enhance both environmental sustainability and agricultural productivity.
The company’s approach aligns with growing industry recognition that effective environmental protection in cocoa production requires coordinated action at landscape scale, rather than focusing solely on individual farm interventions.
