Under the terms of the agreement, the Cocoa Research Institute of Ghana (CRIG) Sensory Lab will benefit from larger-scale cocoa processing equipment and ongoing training and interactions with flavor quality consultants to improve cocoa and chocolate samples. CRIG will expand its cocoa sensory panel and incorporate regular testing sessions and in-person trainings. These trainings will target farmers to educate them on cocoa flavor evaluation techniques and methods for growing and harvesting quality cocoa beans. The activities build on previous World Cocoa Foundation (WCF) and Ghana Cocoa Board (Cocobod) work that increased Ghana’s capacity to include the critical component of flavor within cocoa plant breeding projects.

WCF Ghana Country Director Vincent Manu said: “We understand that preserving cocoa flavor quality in Ghana and across West Africa will drive value and support incomes and food security for thousands of cocoa farmers, their families and communities. Flavor quality training courses offered by CRIG have shown great potential rewards for Ghanaian cocoa farmers”. In October 2017, Simon Marfo, a Ghanaian farmer who had participated in WCF/Cocobod flavor quality training, was one of only 18 winners of the international Cocoa of Excellence Award at the prestigious Salon du Chocolat in Paris.

WCF is also working on establishing a second flavor laboratory in Côte d’Ivoire at the National Agronomic Research Center (CNRA) to undertake similar work.

Some of the investments made under ACI II are funded by the United States Agency for International Development as part of Feed the Future, the U.S. government’s global hunger and food security initiative.

Word Cocoa Foundation is a non-profit international membership organization whose vision is a sustainable and thriving cocoa sector – where farmers prosper, cocoa-growing communities are empowered, human rights are respected, and the environment is conserved. WCF has more than 100 members that represent 80 percent of the global cocoa and chocolate sector. www.worldcocoa.org.

WCF’s African Cocoa Initiative Phase II is a public-private partnership bringing together WCF, chocolate and cocoa industry members and the U.S. Agency for International Development through its Global Development Alliance, with the governments of Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana and Nigeria. WCF member companies supporting ACI II are Barry Callebaut; Cargill; Guittard Chocolate Company; The Hershey Company; Mars, Incorporated; Mondel?z International; Nestlé; and Tree Global Inc.

About Feed the Future: Feed the Future is the U.S. Government’s global hunger and food security initiative. With a focus on smallholder farmers, particularly women, Feed the Future supports partner countries in developing their agriculture sectors to spur economic growth and trade that increase incomes and reduce hunger, poverty and undernutrition. For more information, visit www.feedthefuture.gov.