Rainforest Alliance vows to boost sustainable cocoa production

An International Organisation, Rainforest Alliance, has promised to continue to focus on forest and biodiversity conservation in order to create a resilient agricultural system.

The organisation also expressed its readiness 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 Senior Director for West and Central Africa at Rainforest Alliance, LNadege Nzoyem, stated this during the organization’s 2nd stakeholder workshop themed “Advancing Sustainable Cocoa Production in Nigeria, The Rainforest Alliance’s strategy” held in Akure, Ondo state capital.

Nzoyem who stated that the vision of the organisation 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.

She disclosed that the Rainforest Alliance’s ambition is to reach 100 million farmers and workers globally by 2030.

Speaking to 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, said that the organization is focusing on forest and biodiversity conservation and creating a resilient agricultural system.

The Senior Director for West and Central Africa at Rainforest Alliance expressed delight that more than 50 per cent of cocoa harvest in Nigeria has 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.

The Rainforest Alliance’s Country Director for Ghana and Nigeria, Mr Nicholas Jengre, in his presentation, 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 into effect on December 31, 2024.

During a panel discussion on the way forward in EUDR compliance, a cocoa technical expert, Mr Ayo Akinola emphasized the need to work together as a nation to develop a national strategy for EUDR compliance.

NIGERIAN TRIBUNE