Foundations The Foundations package offers broad-based support to all cocoa farmers, building cooperative-wide capacity and access to shared resources via: • A productivity programme within each partner cooperative with a 5-year MoU • Training for coaches and other key stakeholders who engage with cocoa farmers • Labour brigades (Côte d’Ivoire) / Rural Service Centres (Ghana) set up for cocoa farmers to use • Coaches visit each cocoa farm twice a year to give recommendations and train farmers • Payment of a fixed amount per cocoa farmer to invest in their farm. The Foundation builds on the work carried via the 5 Sourcing Principles and productivity programmes over the past years. More broadly, it will also include the development of improved knowledge on the standards for agroforestry, disease management and renovation of farms in our supply chain. Tony’s Open Chain has historically promoted agroforestry in Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana by supplying tree nurseries and setting targets of 18–30 shade trees per hectare (with at least 6 species), as well as 30% shade cover within 3 years. These goals are slightly higher than those set by the Cocoa and Forestry Initiative (16 shade trees per hectare) and fit with definitions set by Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana’s respective regulatory authorities. However, we now seek to move beyond fixed tree-count targets toward a more holistic agroforestry model. We believe that cocoa agroforestry should not only aim to replicate a natural forest ecosystem but also be tailored to cocoa farmers’ food consumption needs and other professional aspirations. To achieve these goals, we aim to: • Facilitate the strategic integration of food crops (e.g., cassava, okra, ginger), local fruits (e.g., bananas, coconuts, mangos), cash crops (e.g., cocoa) and timber – according to their lifecycle and strata • Regulate shade and density through pruning for optimal tree spacing.
WHAT IS AGROFORESTRY? Agroforestry is a sustainable farming approach that deliberately integrates trees with crops to improve soil health, enhance biodiversity and increase climate resilience while contributing to long-term farm productivity. Tony’s Open Chain defines agroforestry parameters as: a minimum of 15% native vegetation cover, 40% shade canopy and at least 12 diverse species per hectare – including native food, fruit, crop and timber species. A high density of shade trees (30–60 per hectare), appropriately spaced by growth cycle and canopy strata, is required to enhance resilience against climatic stress and disease. Regular pruning must maintain uneven spacing and optimal shade distribution. Additionally, the system should be tailored to align with farmers’ food consumption needs and market opportunities.
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Ending exploitation in cocoa together
Living income
Climate, environment & productivity
Human rights
Governance & finances
Interesting appendices
Scaling for change
Introduction
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