Cocoa sector signs Dutch letter of intent with IDH and LNV
Over 25 retailers, chocolate producers and NGOs signed a letter of intent initiated by the Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality (LNV) and IDH on sustainable cacao. The signing parties aim to support the revitalization of cocoa production in West-Africa to allow for the consumption of sustainable produced and certified chocolate in the Netherlands. 'A historical step', said Gerda Verburg, Minister of LNV: 'Never before such a strong coalition of NGO's, companies, trade unions and certifiers signed a letter of intent with such explicit goals'. Joost Oorthuizen, director of IDH: ‘This letter of intent gives a strong signal in terms of market demand. The focus now should be on farmer support to raise quality and productivity for better business opportunities for cocoa farmers in West Africa.’
The letter of intent was initiated by the Ministries of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality, Economic Affairs Foreign Affairs and IDH. The letter of intent was preceded by a study and an expert meeting on cocoa by IDH to formulate realistic goals for both supply and demand of cocoa so that a credible supply source of sustainable cocoa can be organized.
Download the cocoa report here
Signing members at the first meeting at the Ministry
During the ceremony Minister Verburg underlined that the letter of intent was still open for other parties to sign. And indeed soon a second session was organized on March 31 to include new signing members.
Second signing session
Hans Hoogeveen Director-General of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality: ‘What we hoped as initiating partners did happen: an expansion of signing parties with hopefully more to come in the future. Through creating demand we can stimulate farmers to produce more sustainably. In that way the Dutch government as a front runner in sustainability , shows that sustainable supply chains is something that can really be achieved.'
The Netherlands are an important player in cocoa. The Netherlands are the biggest importer of cocoa with 20% of total cocoa import and therefore most processing companies are situated in the Amsterdam harbor area. Every Dutch citizen consumes 5 kg of chocolate every year.
Chocolate Working Group
The letter of intent provides for a Chocolate Working Group that will have regular meetings. Mr. Olivero, General Manager of Fererro: 'I think we can learn a lot from each other. Therefore, Ferrero embraces the establishment of the Chocolate Working Group in which all stakeholders will participate. Ferrero is keen to participate in the Working Group to share all insights and best practices that we have learned throughout our twelve year partnership with the Maquita Foundation in Ecuador.’
Read the full interview.
Taco Kingma, Senior Manager Sustainability at FrieslandCampina: ‘For our company sustainability is an important strategy. For cocoa as well as other commodities. We want to see fast progress and that is only possible when we all work together.'
Jean-Marie Logtestijn, General Director of Baronie: ' The need for sustainability in cocoa is evident. What counts in mainstreaming cocoa now is that it is available, of good quality and for a moderate price. That is only possible in close cooperation with all stakeholders' .
The first meeting of the Chocolate Working Group was on April 20 at the Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality.
Signing parties
Next to the Ministeries of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality, Economic Affairs and Foreign Affairs, other signing organisations are:
- Initiatief Duurzame Handel (IDH)
- Verkade
- La Place
- Solidaridad
- Jamin
- UTZ CERTIFIED
- FrieslandCampina
- FNV bondgenoten
- Haven Amsterdam
- Albert Heijn
- Mars Nederland
- Vereniging Biologische Producenten (VBP)
- Plus Supermarkten
- Oxfam Novib
- Rainforest Alliance
- Dutch Cacao
- Unilever Benelux
- Tropical Commodity Coalition (TCC)
- Fair Trade
- Vereniging Bakkerijen en Zoetwaren
- Kruidvat
- ORAM
- CBL
- Ferrero
- HEMA
- Baronie de Heer
Letters of support were send by
- Cargill
- Nestlé
- ADM
- Kraft Foods
- Barry Callebaut
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