Mondelēz International has released a report, in partnership with Wageningen University & Research, outlining the $10 billion annual income gap for cocoa farmers in Ghana and Ivory Coast. The report, titled ‘No Silver Bullets’, offers new insights into the true scale of the cocoa farmer income challenge. - 11/20/20

Mondelēz International was recognised as a ‘COVID-19 Hero’ at the 2020 Ghana Cocoa Awards for our work to protect the health and wellbeing of those at the heart of the Cocoa Life program. The ceremony also awarded Cocoa Life Ghana Country Lead Yaa Preprah Amekudzi ‘Sustainability Personality of the Year’, while Cocoa Life Ghana was awarded ‘Sustainability Initiative of the Year’. - 11/15/20

In 2016, we embarked on a new partnership with the Fairtrade Foundation. In an exclusive interview with Just Food, Cocoa Life Director Cathy Pieters speaks about the partnership, as well as the joint publication of the Sustainable Livelihoods Landscape Study, which looks at sustainable livelihood initiatives in the West African cocoa sector. - 06/19/20

In May 2020, Mondelēz International published its 2019 Snacking Made Right Report, highlighting significant progress towards achieving the company’s 2025 sustainable and mindful snacking goals – including sourcing 63% of its cocoa volume for chocolate brands through Cocoa Life as of the end of 2019. - 05/08/20

Cadbury has announced a brand refresh for its iconic Cadbury and Cadbury Dairy Milk bars. The new modern look features the Cocoa Life logo on the front of the packaging, highlighting Mondelēz International’s long-standing Cocoa Life sustainability program and its commitment to cocoa farmers and the environment. Ben Wicks, global brand director at Cadbury, explains the thinking behind the brand refresh. - 04/23/20

Empowering women is key to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals and improving conditions in agricultural supply chains. Manuel Kiewisch, Global Monitoring and Evaluation, Verification, and Learning Manager for the Cocoa Life program at Mondelēz International, shares lessons from Cocoa Life about what this means in practice. - 09/12/19

The Wall Street Journal reports on Mondelēz International’s 2025 commitment to sustainably source 100% of the cocoa volume needed for its chocolate brands through the Cocoa Life program. The expansion will see an increase in the number of farmers and communities Mondelēz International supports across six cocoa origin countries. - 04/30/19

In an exclusive interview with Confectionery News on the Chocoa Conference in Amsterdam, Cédric van Cutsem gives an update on Cocoa Life’s approach on deforestation. - 05/03/19

Save the Children’s Visionary Award was presented to Mondelēz International for its commitment to driving positive impact on people and the planet through its Cocoa Life initiative and the Mondelēz Foundation. Chief sustainability, well-being and public & government affairs officer, Christine McGrath, accepted the award for the organization. "I truly believe that through our long-standing partnership, Save the Children and Mondelēz International together are empowering communities to be healthier and more sustainable – now and into the future." - 15/11/18

In an exclusive interview with Confectionery News, Cathy Pieters shares details of the recently launched Cocoa Life Brazil. A little different from the program currently in place in West Africa, Cocoa Life Brazil will focus on empowering 500 cocoa farmers and 100 families, while promoting agroforestry to restore land. The program will work with WCF CocoaAction Brazil to secure government influence, all the while improving the welfare of cocoa farmers in the country. - 28/10/18

Jonathan Horrell, Director Sustainability, accepts the Unilever Global Development Award at the Business in the Community (BITC) Responsible Business Award 2018, on behalf of Cocoa Life. The judges recognized Cocoa Life’s leading approach,  and praised to its long term significant and positive impact. - 07/10/18

Cocoa Life wins Environmental Leadership Award 2018 for its innovative work on environment and climate change in the cocoa growing origins. The Food and Drink Federation (FDF) is a UK platform that celebrates excellence and innovation in the industry. - 20/09/18

Francesco Tramontin, Director of Public Affairs, accepts Sedex Award 2018 for Best Example of Continuous Improvement on behalf of the Cocoa Life program in London. Mondelēz International has been recognized by Sedex for its longstanding efforts and ever-improving holistic approach to tackling the root causes of child labor in the cocoa supply chain through the Cocoa Life program. - 13/03/18

This article emphasizes the need for the chocolate industry to widen the commitment to sustainable cocoa beyond certification, compares different initiatives, and reports on the efforts and uniqueness of Mondelēz International Cocoa Life program.
The chocolate industry needs to widen their commitment to sustainable cocoa beyond certification. - 20/02/18

Cocoa Life farmers from Ghana are invited to visit Bournville, home to Cadbury, and witness the transformation of their cocoa into chocolate. - 12/04/17

Linda Scott, from Oxford University Said Business School, presents her report and encourages the industry to share their practice in advancing women empowerment in the supply chain. Mondelēz International was among 9 other companies who participated to the Global Business Coalition for Women’s Economic Empowerment discussion. - 11/30/17

Mary Barnard, Europe Chocolate Category President of Mondelēz International, Cathy Pieters, Cocoa Life Director, and other members of the Cocoa Life team in Ghana met with President Akufo-Addo of Ghana to discuss the current situation of cocoa farmers in Ghana, and the expansion of the Cocoa Life program in the country. - 10/30/17

Reuters shares in depth reflection on in-house certification programs, such as Cocoa Life, and highlights the challenges and benefits of such initiatives.

Among the innovations of in-house programs, Reuters mentions Cocoa Life increased transparency and traceability through the uses digital farm mapping in Ghana, Ivory Coast and Indonesia - 09/03/17

Cocoa Life and Fairtrade build their partnership, by putting forward their first program to tackle climate change and deforestation in Ghana. This articles highlights the importance of such partnerships in the cocoa industry, especially in regards to climate resilience. - 08/24/17

Cathy Pieters, Director of Cocoa Life, is interviewed by Food Engineering on the aims and vision for the program. She shares insights on the importance of building a sustainable cocoa farming and sourcing strategy, and the importance of climate resilience. - 07/25/17

Cocoa Life is featured as an explanatory example on sustainable chocolate production in Ghana, while using the iconic brand Cadbury as a case study. This article explains the reasons behind the program’s forth coming as a response to the current challenges in cocoa production, and gives insight into the investments and plans for its future. - 05/31/17

This article highlights the main challenges for cocoa growth and production, leading India to currently import a big part of it from other producing countries. Experts argue that, by putting strategies into place and giving farmers opportunity and access to the right information and practices, it would increase their income and allow India to rely more on its local cocoa corps. - 05/21/17

A new initiative has been launched to save tropical rainforests from further clearance and degradation as a result of cocoa production. Twelve of the world’s largest cocoa and chocolate companies, that have been working together in a process started by The Prince of Wales’s International Sustainability Unit, the World Cocoa Foundation and IDH, have agreed to adopt a declaration committing them to action to halt deforestation and forest degradation. - 03/14/17

Artikel van Annemike van Dongen over de crisis in de cacaoteelt en interview met Cathy Pieters. Als de straatarme cacaoboeren in Afrika het niet snel beter krijgen, kan volgens haar de chocoladereep naar het museum en zijn we ons favoriete snoepgoed kwijt. - 02/25/17

This article emphasizes the great value of women in economy, especially on smaller enterprises. The text summarizes Mondelēz efforts towards a sustainable transformation of the cocoa sector as well as the strategy regarding women's empowerment in the cocoa production, from the gender action plans to the results of the latest CARE study. - 02/01/17

177 cocoa-growing communities have received motorized pruners, sprayers and training to empower women in cocoa farming. Harvesting and pruning are the two most burdensome activities in the cultivation of cocoa. From now on these women will be able to perform those activities by themselves increasing the yield from their farms. - 01/12/17

25.000 cocoa farmers in Ghana received another edition of the special cocoa farming calendar which includes information to guide cocoa farmers to produce cocoa sustainable. The calendar, distributed each year, has specific information aimed at educating cocoa farmers on recommended farming activities to be undertaken each month. Adopting these practices will help them to improve yields and enhance their livelihoods. - 12/21/16

Article by Annie Kelly on the Guardian Sustainable business hub on how child labor is still present in many of the world’s largest global commodities, from gold, coffee, tobacco and bananas to sugarcane, cotton and rubber. - 11/24/16

Article by Laura Lloyd about Cocoa Life’s strategy towards building success in improving women's roles and status in cocoa production in Ivory Coast and Ghana. The article highlights actions undertaken by Cocoa Life to improve gender equality among cocoa farmers in Ghana including training women working on cocoa farms, increasing their access to farm inputs, land ownership and membership to farmer groups. - 12/12/16

Fairtrade will now partner with Cocoa Life in an expansion of its $400 million sustainability programme across Cadbury brands meaning that by 2019 five times as much Cadbury chocolate in the UK and Ireland will be made with sustainably sourced cocoa. - 11/22/16

Mondelēz International has partnered with Fairtrade to grow the chocolate maker’s own program Cocoa Life to cover all Cadbury products in the UK & Ireland. - 11/17/16

Artikel von Christiane Düthmann über Cocoa Life, den Zielen zur Nachhaltigkeit und die Fortschritte, die bereits mit Cocoa Life erreicht wurden und wie dies gemessen wird. - 08/26/16

Article by A.D Rangarajan on how cocoa, once considered an alien crop, has now expanded its footprint in south India where Cocoa Life is implementing its program. - 10/06/16

Artikel von Christiane Düthmann über Cocoa Life, den Zielen zur Nachhaltigkeit und die Fortschritte, die bereits mit Cocoa Life erreicht wurden und wie dies gemessen wird. - 08/26/16

Article by Cathy Pieters, Director of Cocoa Life. To increase the income of cocoa farming families women should receive equal access to land, finance, training and inputs. - 08/11/16