Earthwatch Institute (Europe) has announced that it will partner with Cadbury and the Ghana Nature Conservation Research Centre (NCRC) to initiate a three year project to improve biodiversity levels of cocoa farms in Ghana and establish the country's first cocoa farm eco-tourism initiative.
The project, based in the Eastern region of Ghana, a traditional cocoa growing area, will encourage new farming methods to support the production of quality cocoa beans for future generations. In particular, the project aims to re-establish cocoa on land once used to grow the crop. Farmers will be encouraged to grow cocoa in a more ecologically balanced environment that provides a diversified habitat for birds and other wildlife and which increases cocoa yield and boosts farmers' long term financial security. The project will also take the first practical step towards demonstrating the reality of the cocoa farm eco-tourism concept in the country, which will take advantage of the million visitors Ghana receives each year, and should provide an additional revenue stream for farmers and their communities.
Earthwatch will manage the partnership between Cadbury and NCRC and co-ordinate teams of international volunteers who will collect data to measure the impact of new farming methods and join Ghanaian research staff in the field. Cadbury will provide financial support and offer its employees the opportunity to volunteer on the project. The funding from Cadbury will also allow a team of Ghanaian students to take part and gain practical field experience. The NCRC is dedicated to promoting community-led eco-tourism and will work closely with local farmers and institutions, such as the Cocoa Research Institute of Ghana (CRIG) and the Ghana Tourist Board (GTB) to establish the research project and a cocoa farm tourism initiative.
Dr Roger Mitchell, Director of Research and Education at Earthwatch, says "The increasing extension of land for farming, together with the general intensification of agriculture, poses one of the greatest threats to biodiversity worldwide. We are looking forward to working with Cadbury and the NCRC on this initiative to demonstrate how the new cocoa growing system can create long-term benefits for the farmer, their communities and the environment."
John J. Mason, Executive Director for NCRC, Accra, Ghana, further comments, "This project is an innovative approach to cocoa farming. It aims to develop a new revenue stream - a cocoa farm eco-tourism venture - and place it into the hands of rural cocoa farmers who are prepared to use new growing methods and improve biodiversity levels on their farms."
The project is supported by the Cadbury Foundation, the company's registered charity, which as part of its Africa Aid programme, wanted to develop an environmental project consistent with broader business needs, in this case ensuring the protection of ecosystems that provide the company with vital raw materials.
Cadbury's relationship with Ghana began in 1908 when the Cadbury brothers helped set up the cocoa farming industry. Over the years the company has worked with farmers to help them and their communities. Today Cadbury in the UK still buys all its cocoa beans from Ghana.
Matthew Litobarski, President, Global Supply Chain, Cadbury says, "This project has many opportunities. It develops our long term relationships with the cocoa farmers in Ghana, it helps to protect the local biodiversity and it aims to improve the livelihoods of the farmers upon whom we rely to provide us with the best quality cocoa beans. It also allows our colleagues in Cadbury to become involved with activities that will give them new skills and knowledge which we hope will be used to further progress the protection of biodiversity."
For press information please contact Zoe Gamble, Press Officer, Earthwatch + 44 (0) 1865 318852 / zgamble@earthwatch.org.uk or the Cadbury press office +44 (0) 207 830 5011.