Rainforest Alliance is an international non-profit organization working to create a more sustainable world by using social and market forces to protect nature and improve the lives of farmers and forest communities.
The international organization which vision is to create a world where people and nature thrive in harmony unveils strategies to advance its work in promoting sustainable cocoa production in Nigeria.
This was disclosed to the Nigeria cocoa industry players during the organization’s 2nd stakeholder workshop themed “Advancing Sustainable Cocoa Production in Nigeria, The Rainforest Alliance’s strategy” which was held on Tuesday September 3rd, 2024 in Akure, Ondo State, Nigeria.
The key industry players present at the workshop include local and international cocoa companies, government ministries and agencies, relevant development partners, NGOs, research institutes and cocoa associations.
Speaking at the event, the Senior Director for West and Central Africa at Rainforest Alliance, Nadege Nzoyem, said the organization is focusing on forest and biodiversity conservation and creating a resilient agricultural system. She expressed delight that more than 50 percent of cocoa harvest in Nigeria have complied with the Rainforest Alliance sustainable agriculture standard.
Also, the Certification Partner Support Manager at Rainforest Alliance in Nigeria, Mr Kazeem Sanni stated that the purpose of the workshop was to introduce to the Nigerian cocoa stakeholders the organization’s 2030 strategy which is to accelerate the speed and scale of impact through a virtuous cycle with producers at the heart.
He mentioned that the organization also aimed to explore opportunities for more collaborations in building a sustainable and deforestation-free cocoa supply chain in Nigeria.
In his presentation, the Rainforest Alliance’s Country Director for Ghana and Nigeria, Mr Nicholas Jengre indicated that farmers and companies who are certified with the Rainforest Alliance standard are a step ahead towards complying with the European Union Deforestation
Regulation which comes to effect in December 31, 2024.
During a panel discussion on the way forward in the EUDR compliance, a cocoa technical expert, Mr Ayo Akinola emphasized the need to work together as a nation to develop a national strategy on EUDR compliance.
Rainforest Alliance’s ambition is to reach 100 million farmers and workers globally by 2030.
