Trade for Development Centre is a programme of Enabel, the Belgian development agency.
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Cocoa

Fair trade struggles to lift cocoa farmers out of poverty in Ivory Coast

October 28th 2018

In recent years, there have been numerous studies attesting that cocoa producers in Côte d’Ivoire, the main producing country, live in poverty. They earn EUR 0.86, around 1 dollar a day, according to Barry-Callebaut and the French Development Agency[1]. This income keeps them below the poverty line[2] and to make ends meet they have to resort to child labour and rampant deforestation (the productivity of cleared land required less labour in the early years).

Read more »

How sustainable is today’s cocoa?

July 8th 2018

After the cocoa industry was blamed for the many child labour scandals and because cocoa producers were being paid prices that were far too low, large chocolate companies took initiatives to improve the sustainability. What is the current situation, particularly after the cocoa price on the world market dropped significantly last year?
Even while market conditions are tough, across cocoa-producing regions cooperatives resolutely choose for sustainable or organic production and fair trade. Twenty of these cooperatives are supported by the Trade for Development Centre (TDC). To put a face on their endeavours, we visited Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire as well as Bolivia and Vietnam.

Read more »

Bruges launches its own fair trade chocolate

May 17th 2018

Bruges is the first city in the world to launch its own fair trade chocolate bar, called Sjokla (as the word “chocolate” is pronounced in West Flanders). In doing so, the city, home to many chocolate makers, combines local craftsmanship and fair trade chocolate. The chocolate bar is also made from local ingredients.

Read more »

Cocoa: the white gold of Peru

September 21st 2016

In Europe, demand for dark chocolate is rising by at least 70%. This is good news for small cocoa farmers in Peru who grow a fine and tasty variety of cocoa in the traditional way. The TDC decided to support a number of Peruvian cocoa cooperatives to increase the quality of their production so that they can conquer a nice place in the market of high quality cocoa.

Read more »

New Tree, chocolate to Savour Life each day

May 23rd 2016

‘Give back what you take’ sums up New Tree’s mission. This Belgian company does not just want to make chocolate; it wants to make healthy chocolate with surprising flavours. In exchange for what the planet gives us the company advocates a greener and fairer world. We already know that chocolate is healthy, but that chocolate can be responsible and sustainable is new and requires some explanation.

Read more »

Wanted: a global standard for sustainable cocoa

October 28th 2015

Chocolate is everywhere, but this widespread availability sharply contrasts with the extreme poverty of cocoa farmers which undermines the future of the whole sector. The sector agrees on that bleak outlook.
But solutions and strategies diverge. At least the ISO/CEN process has brought all stakeholders around the table.

Read more »

Klingele: chocolate from heaven

March 2nd 2015

Klingele has been in the chocolate business for more than 20 years and is specialised in sugar-free organic and fair trade chocolate. In addition to its own brands – Balance and Green Dream – the company produces chocolate for other brands. Chances are your supermarket also has products made by Klingele on its shelves.

Read more »

Fair trade struggles to lift cocoa farmers out of poverty in Ivory Coast

October 28th 2018

In recent years, there have been numerous studies attesting that cocoa producers in Côte d’Ivoire, the main producing country, live in poverty. They earn EUR 0.86, around 1 dollar a day, according to Barry-Callebaut and the French Development Agency[1]. This income keeps them below the poverty line[2] and to make ends meet they have to resort to child labour and rampant deforestation (the productivity of cleared land required less labour in the early years).

Read more »

How sustainable is today’s cocoa?

July 8th 2018

After the cocoa industry was blamed for the many child labour scandals and because cocoa producers were being paid prices that were far too low, large chocolate companies took initiatives to improve the sustainability. What is the current situation, particularly after the cocoa price on the world market dropped significantly last year?
Even while market conditions are tough, across cocoa-producing regions cooperatives resolutely choose for sustainable or organic production and fair trade. Twenty of these cooperatives are supported by the Trade for Development Centre (TDC). To put a face on their endeavours, we visited Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire as well as Bolivia and Vietnam.

Read more »

Bruges launches its own fair trade chocolate

May 17th 2018

Bruges is the first city in the world to launch its own fair trade chocolate bar, called Sjokla (as the word “chocolate” is pronounced in West Flanders). In doing so, the city, home to many chocolate makers, combines local craftsmanship and fair trade chocolate. The chocolate bar is also made from local ingredients.

Read more »

Cocoa: the white gold of Peru

September 21st 2016

In Europe, demand for dark chocolate is rising by at least 70%. This is good news for small cocoa farmers in Peru who grow a fine and tasty variety of cocoa in the traditional way. The TDC decided to support a number of Peruvian cocoa cooperatives to increase the quality of their production so that they can conquer a nice place in the market of high quality cocoa.

Read more »

New Tree, chocolate to Savour Life each day

May 23rd 2016

‘Give back what you take’ sums up New Tree’s mission. This Belgian company does not just want to make chocolate; it wants to make healthy chocolate with surprising flavours. In exchange for what the planet gives us the company advocates a greener and fairer world. We already know that chocolate is healthy, but that chocolate can be responsible and sustainable is new and requires some explanation.

Read more »

Wanted: a global standard for sustainable cocoa

October 28th 2015

Chocolate is everywhere, but this widespread availability sharply contrasts with the extreme poverty of cocoa farmers which undermines the future of the whole sector. The sector agrees on that bleak outlook.
But solutions and strategies diverge. At least the ISO/CEN process has brought all stakeholders around the table.

Read more »

Klingele: chocolate from heaven

March 2nd 2015

Klingele has been in the chocolate business for more than 20 years and is specialised in sugar-free organic and fair trade chocolate. In addition to its own brands – Balance and Green Dream – the company produces chocolate for other brands. Chances are your supermarket also has products made by Klingele on its shelves.

Read more »

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