The EU launched the Sustainable Cocoa Initiative in 2020 to improve the sustainability of the cocoa supply chain in West African countries – the main producers of cocoa in the world.
One of the key pillars of the initiative is an inclusive multistakeholder dialogue, the “Cocoa Talks”, organised by the European Commission. The objective of the dialogue is to advance responsible business practices in relation to child labour and child trafficking, the protection and restorations of forests, and decent incomes for cocoa farmers.

To support the initiative, the European Union contributed 25 million EUR to enhance the economic, social and environmental sustainability of cocoa production in Côte d'Ivoire, Ghana and Cameroon. This support is completed and scaled up by EU-funded geographic programmes. At COP28, the European Commission outlined new support measures for partner countries to ensure a successful transition to deforestation-free supply chains.

- On 28th of June 2022, following two years of discussions, all sides have committed to a set of concrete time-bound actions to improve the sustainability of the cocoa supply chain in West Africa. These actions aim to halt deforestation and child labour, and improve the living income for farmers. Focus will be put on prices and market functioning on the one hand and on traceability systems and standards on the other hand. These commitments were endorsed by all and will be closely monitored.

The Joint Research Centre (JRC), in cooperation with partners (The European Forest Institute, FAO and GIZ) and in coordination with the EU Delegations in Ivory Coast, Ghana and Cameroun, supports this initiative by providing a range of scientific services addressing the different dimensions of the sustainability in the cocoa sector:

• Impacts of the Living Income Differential;
• Strengthening of capacity of producing countries to monitor deforestation (for all EUDR commodities, not only Cocoa);
• Contributing to the development of a traceability system for cocoa;
• Improvement of public/private standards and certifications for sustainable cocoa production;
• Conducting Life Cycle Analysis of cocoa production (from the farm to the consumer) including biodiversity impacts; More information on Cocoa Life Cycle Assessment in the African Knowledge Platform.
• Conducting field level analysis of the impact of agricultural practices in cocoa fields, including agro-forestry.

What is Sustainable Cocoa?

Cocoa value chain analysis

• Cocoa value chain analysis in São Tomé e Príncipe
• Analyse de la chaîne de valeur cacao au Cameroun
• Cocoa value chain in Papua New Guinea
• Ecuador
• Nicaragua & Alto Wangki Bocay
• Colombia
• Honduras

Country factsheets

Factsheets "Unpacking the EU Deforestation Regulation for the cocoa sector” for Cameroon, Cote d’Ivoire and Ghana.

Publications on “Sustainable Cocoa”

Explore relevant publications on this topic from the database of the KC-FNS.