First Cocoa Co-ops Get UTZ Certification

AMSTERDAMTwo cocoa producing farmer cooperatives in Côte dIvoireAgricole de Fiédifoué and Coopagareceived the first UTZ certified cocoa certificates after working with Cargill and Solidaridad, both founding members of the UTZ certified cocoa program.

The intensive eight-month program trained 1,590 farmers in responsible and sustainable agriculture practices, building on the work with cocoa farmers that Cargill has been undertaking in West Africa for many years. The certifications were completed following independent audits and are awarded on an annual basis. The first UTZ certified sustainable cocoa will be available by the end of 2009.

Harold Poelma, managing director of Cocoa, Cargill Cocoa & Chocolate said, "For many years we have run training programs for farmers believing it is the best way to bring sustainabilityin all senses of the wordinto the supply chain. This certification endorses our belief in the importance of sustainable agricultural practices and is a great achievement by the farmers and the cooperatives. We are delighted."