ZURICH, SWITZERLAND--(Marketwire - Jun 29, 2012) -
Barry Callebaut AG /
Barry Callebaut breaks ground at its first Center of Cocoa Excellence in
West
Africa
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Cocoa Horizons sustainability initiative at work
* New CHF 1 million training and research center to be operational from
October 2012
* "Showcase Farm" will be used to test state-of-the-art intercropping
Approaches
* Cocoa farmers will receive training in grafting and farm regeneration
techniques to increase crop yields
Barry Callebaut, the world's leading
manufacturer of high-quality cocoa and chocolate products, announced it is
establishing a CHF 1 million (EUR 833,000 / USD 1.05 million) Center of
Cocoa
Excellence to promote advanced agricultural techniques in Côte
d'Ivoire, the
world's largest cocoa producing country. The Center will include training
facilities for farmers and a 30-hectare "showcase farm" to demonstrate
state-of-the-art intercropping techniques and other yield enhancement
practices such as
grafting to rejuvenate aging cocoa farms and double farm productivity.
The Center of Cocoa Excellence will be situated in Pacobo in the Department
of
Tiassalé in the south-central cocoa growing area of Côte
d'Ivoire. A cornerstone
of Barry Callebaut's "Cocoa Horizons" global sustainability initiative, the
Center is scheduled to be operational from October 2012.
The "showcase farm" will comprise about 30 hectares, ten of which will be
planted this year starting in June. Barry Callebaut will use the farm to
test
different approaches for growing cocoa with other crops. The company is
building
on its prior experience with intercropping of compatible plants to improve
productivity and biodiversity. Since 2010 Barry Callebaut has supported a
local
project in the region to demonstrate optimal methods of intercropping
cocoa,
banana and rubber with the goal of improving yields per hectare.
Some of the crops that will be planted alongside cocoa trees on the
"showcase
farm" include: plantain, coconut, mango, pineapple, beans and maize, as
well as
rubber and others. Shade trees will also be planted.
"This effort reflects the importance of promoting biodiversity - planting
other
food crops and shade trees in addition to cocoa - on smallholder farms,"
said
Anke Massart, Project Leader Cocoa Horizons in Côte d'Ivoire. "An
abundant
variety of plants and trees simulates the natural diversity found in the
rainforest and results in a healthy ecosystem. This, in turn, means more
productive cocoa trees."
In addition to the environmental benefits, planting other food crops and
trees
together with cocoa also directly benefits farmers and their families by
providing variety to the family diet as well as creating additional sources
of
income to complement the earnings from cocoa.
Barry Callebaut's Center of Cocoa Excellence as well as five planned Farmer
Academies will be located in important cocoa-growing regions of Ivory Coast
as
part of the company's Cocoa Horizons initiative. Cocoa Horizons defines a
portfolio of yield enhancement techniques aimed at increasing the yields
per
hectare and quality of cocoa grown by smallholder farmers. These
innovative
approaches are essential to ensure future supplies of quality cocoa and
improved
livelihoods for farmers and their families.
In addition to the "showcase farm," the Center of Cocoa Excellence will
also
include a building with a classroom, nurseries of cocoa and shade trees as
well
as fermentation and drying facilities. From October, the Center at Pacobo
will
offer training to selected farmers from about 20 cooperatives currently
participating in BC's sustainability and certification activities.
***
Barry Callebaut (www.barry-callebaut.com):
With annual sales of about CHF 4.6 billion (EUR 3.6 billion/USD 5.0
billion) for
fiscal year 2010/11, Zurich-based Barry Callebaut is the world's leading
manufacturer of high-quality cocoa and chocolate - from the cocoa bean to
the
finished chocolate product. Barry Callebaut is present in 27 countries,
operates
around 40 production facilities and employs a diverse and dedicated
workforce of
about 6,000 people. Barry Callebaut serves the entire food industry
focusing on
industrial food manufacturers, artisans and professional users of chocolate
(such as chocolatiers, pastry chefs or bakers), the latter with its two
global
brands Callebaut® and Cacao Barry®. Barry Callebaut is the global
leader in
cocoa and chocolate innovations and provides a comprehensive range of
services
in the fields of product development, processing, training and marketing.
Cost
leadership is another important reason why global as well as local food
manufacturers work together with Barry Callebaut. Through its broad range
of
sustainability initiatives and research activities, the company works with
farmers, farmer organizations and other partners to help ensure future
supplies
of cocoa and improve farmer livelihoods.
***
The complete press release can be downloaded from the following link:
Press Release:
http://hugin.info/100441/R/1622761/518652.pdf
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Source: Barry Callebaut AG via Thomson Reuters ONE
[HUG#1622761]