21. January 2025

10-Point Plan for a Sustainable Cocoa Sector: BMZ and BMEL reinforce commitment

The Federal Minister of Agriculture Cem Özdemir and State Secretary at the BMZ Jochen Flasbarth presented a new version of the 10-point plan for a sustainable cocoa sector at the Green Week. The new version takes into account the new supply chain legislation and reflects the progress and current developments in the cocoa sector. At the "Internationale Grüne Woche" (IGW) event in 2019, then Federal Minister of Agriculture Glöckner and former Federal Minister of Development Müller presented the 10-Point Plan for a Sustainable Cocoa Sector. Six years later, also at the IGW, Federal Minister of Agriculture Cem Özdemir and State Secretary at the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) Jochen Flasbarth now presented a new version of this 10-point plan.

The new version takes into account the new supply chain legislation and reflects the progress and current developments in the cocoa sector. We have now anchored our commitment to living incomes for cocoa farmers in the plan, as well as our commitment to responsible purchasing practices and due diligence, and the promotion of ecological and climate-friendly cocoa cultivation, summarized State Secretary Flasbarth the main changes in the new version. In addition, they wanted to promote women in the cocoa sector even more, as they play a key role.

The 10-Point Plan for a Sustainable Cocoa Sector forms an important basis for the German government's commitment to this supply chain. Since 2012, the Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (BMEL) and BMZ have been working together with the German confectionery industry, the German food trade and civil society in the Forum Sustainable Cocoa. The multi-stakeholder partnership will continue to be an important part of the commitment to a sustainable sector.

In addition, the BMZ supports a variety of projects in Côte d'Ivoire, Ghana, Ecuador, Indonesia and other cocoa-producing countries that promote sustainability in cocoa cultivation, such as the Pro-Planteurs project.

Background and challenges in the cocoa sector

Over 70% of cocoa is grown in West Africa, particularly in Côte d'Ivoire and Ghana. Growing cocoa is not an easy task, as the cocoa tree is a sensitive plant and the harvesting of the cocoa beans, as well as the fermentation and drying, is done by hand.

However, most cocoa farmers can barely make a living from this work. Four out of five cocoa farmers in Ghana do not earn a living income. A typical family in Côte d'Ivoire earns only about one-third of a living income from cocoa farming. In addition, climate change, associated crop failures, and the spread of tree diseases threaten the livelihoods of cocoa farming families.

Livelihoods and legal requirements along the agricultural supply chain

Achieving a living income is essential for the sustainability of the cocoa sector. Thus, members of German Initiative on Sustainable Cocoa (GISCO) have also set the goal that at least 90% of cocoa-growing households in their supply chains will earn a living income by 2030.

The German and European supply chain laws, as well as the EU regulation on deforestation-free supply chains, also oblige the major cocoa processors and chocolate manufacturers in Europe to implement their human rights and environmental due diligence obligations. Many large companies have already advocated for legislation within the framework of the EU Cocoa Coalition, as they see it as an important step to advance the necessary transformation of the cocoa and chocolate sector. These developments are now being addressed in the new version of the 10-point plan for a sustainable cocoa sector, thus strengthening the basis for the German government's and especially the BMZ's commitment.