“Hershey, Lindt, Mars, Nestle Join New Program to Help Cocoa Farmers Adapt to Climate Change,” 2 Jun 2016

…Leading cocoa and chocolate companies recognize the threat that climate change poses to cocoa sustainability...World Cocoa Foundation (WCF) announced the launch of a new program…to address the issue by developing solutions and helping farmers adapt. Climate modeling suggests that various regions may need to change…cropping strategies, or implement adaptive management practices, in order to maintain cocoa supply and viable livelihoods for the millions of smallholder farmers around the globe…The WCF program will build on existing industry commitments to increase cocoa productivity among smallholder producers in countries…WCF member companies involved include Barry Callebaut, Cargill, Ecom Agrotrade, The Hershey Company, Lindt & Sprüngli, Mars, Inc., Nestlé, Olam International Ltd, and Touton. These private sector partners will develop a common strategy to address climate's impacts on cocoa and develop innovations to assist farmers in adapting to changing weather patterns, such as research and development of climate resilient planting material, improved farming practices, and new agroforestry models, with support and expertise from the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and the non-profit ACDI/VOCA...