According to www.fooddive.com, Mars and food and beverage ingredient supplier Ofi have launched a five-year collaboration to reduce the carbon footprint of cocoa production across their shared supply chain in Ecuador. The initiative — which commenced in 2025 and runs through 2029 — builds on more than 15 years of joint work on sustainable cocoa sourcing.
Scope and Scale
The first phase targets over 960 farmers across six key cocoa-growing regions in Ecuador: El Oro, Esmeraldas, Guayas, Los Ríos, Manabí, and Santo Domingo. These farmers will implement regenerative agriculture practices across more than 9,000 hectares of farmland, with the goal of transitioning to multistrata agroforestry — a land-use system that layers trees, shrubs, and crops vertically to mimic natural forests.
Regenerative Practices and Farmer Support
Under the project, participating farmers will receive tools and training in three core low-carbon interventions:
- Use of low-carbon fertilizers
- Improved crop residue management
- Biochar applications
According to the source, these measures are expected to increase carbon removals, cut emissions, improve soil health, and boost cocoa yields. Multistrata agroforestry systems are also described as supporting microorganisms and pollinators while creating natural barriers against pests and disease.
Broader Impact and Climate Targets
The initiative is designed to support Mars’ and Ofi’s respective climate goals. Mars aims to halve its total supply chain emissions by 2030 (vs. 2015) and achieve net-zero by 2050. Ofi targets a 50% reduction in Scope 1 and 2 emissions and a 30% cut in Scope 3 emissions by 2030 (vs. 2020), with net-zero across its supply chain also targeted for 2050.
The source states that approximately 4,800 people in nearby cocoa-growing communities are expected to benefit from the program. This aligns with broader industry efforts: Nestlé and Ofi previously launched a regenerative agriculture program targeting cocoa deforestation, and Mars has separately announced a $250 million green investment fund and clean energy procurement strategies to accelerate decarbonization across its supply chain.
“Together with Mars, we’re scaling up regenerative practices like agroforestry and biochar in Ecuador aimed at cutting greenhouse‑gas emissions and helping to secure the future supply of cocoa.” — Andrew Brooks, Head of Cocoa Sustainability, Ofi
For global supply chain professionals, this initiative underscores how tier-2 and tier-3 agricultural suppliers are now central to Scope 3 emissions accountability. It highlights the operational complexity of deploying verified regenerative practices at scale — requiring coordinated extension services, input financing, land tenure clarity, and long-term buyer commitments. Unlike short-term certification schemes, this five-year, hectare-level intervention reflects a shift toward outcome-based, landscape-level sustainability contracting — a model increasingly demanded by EU due diligence regulations and investor ESG benchmarks.
Source: Food Dive
Compiled from international media by the SCI.AI editorial team.
