FROM FARM-LEVEL TRACEABILITY TO COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT: FERRERO’S COCOA PROGRESS IN 2024/25
Ferrero’s Annual Cocoa Progress Report 2024/25 outlines results across Ferrero’s efforts in supporting livelihoods, human rights and social practices, environmental protection and supplier transparency. During the year, 136,000 farmers participated in group training on good agricultural practices, 1.35 million trees were distributed for on- and off-farm planting, and 98.1% of cocoa sourced by Ferrero was traceable to farm level via polygon mapping.
Cocoa is a key ingredient in many of Ferrero’s products, making the long-term resilience of the cocoa value chain important to our business and to the quality products our consumers know and enjoy.
Yet cocoa is also connected to complex and interconnected economic, social and environmental challenges. These include pressures on farmer livelihoods, human rights risks, climate change, deforestation and the need for greater transparency across the supply chain. Addressing these systemic challenges requires sustained action and collaboration among farmers, governments, suppliers, companies, civil society and local communities.
Ferrero’s approach to sourcing cocoa is guided by Ferrero Farming Values, our overarching framework for sourcing key ingredients. It brings together five interconnected areas: supplier due diligence, traceability and visibility, certification and standards, farming practices and supporting communities, and sector transformation. The Ferrero Cocoa Charter translates this approach into cocoa-specific ambitions and commitments, while the latest Cocoa Charter Progress Report outlines the actions taken and progress reported during the 2024/25 growing season.
The 2024/25 results reflect continued action across the four pillars of the Cocoa Charter, while recognising that the challenges facing the cocoa sector remain complex and require long-term, collective effort.
Sustainable Livelihoods and Human Rights & Social Practices
Behind every cocoa harvest are farming families and communities working to build more resilient futures.
Across cocoa-growing regions, Ferrero and its partners continue to support initiatives focused on agricultural practices, farm and business planning, income diversification and financial inclusion. These efforts are intended to help farming households navigate economic and environmental challenges while strengthening long-term resilience.
Human rights and child protection remain a key focus of the Cocoa Charter. Ferrero continues to work with suppliers and partners to support systems designed to identify, prevent and address child labour risks, while also investing in education, community development and awareness-building activities.
While progress is often measured through data and indicators, it is ultimately reflected in the experiences of people living in cocoa-growing communities.
One example is Xavier, a young entrepreneur from Vavoua, Côte d’Ivoire. After leaving school early because of financial constraints, he faced limited employment opportunities. Today, he runs his own market gardening business, generating income that helps support his family and build greater economic independence.
“Thanks to the training and support I received, I now have a profession, I earn an income and I can support my family. My goal is to grow my activity and become a recognised agricultural entrepreneur.”
Xavier’s experience illustrates how community-based initiatives can help create new opportunities for young people and support long-term opportunities for individuals and communities.
Our impact at a glance
- 81,000 farmers received one-to-one coaching
- 73,000 farmers supported through Farm Development Plans
- 136,000 farmers participated in group training
- Nearly 67,000 people involved in income-generating activities
The future of cocoa depends on the long-term health of the landscapes where it is grown.
Under the Environmental Protection pillar, Ferrero works with farmers, suppliers and partners on initiatives related to agroforestry, deforestation-risk assessment, forest protection and restoration, and environmental awareness. These actions form part of broader efforts to better understand environmental risks and contribute to more resilient cocoa-producing landscapes.
An increasing focus is also being placed on approaches that recognise and encourage environmental stewardship, including Payments for Environmental Services programmes implemented in cocoa-growing regions.
The work is supported through partnerships including the Cocoa & Forests Initiative, bringing together governments, industry partners and local communities around shared environmental objectives.
Forest and resilience
- 216,000 hectares under agroforestry systems
- 518,000 hectares assessed for deforestation risk
- 1.35 million trees distributed for on- and off-farm planting
- More than 13,000 farmers participating in Payments for Environmental Services initiatives
Transparency remains a cornerstone of Ferrero’s cocoa sourcing approach.
Understanding where cocoa comes from is essential for supporting due diligence, strengthening supply chain visibility and helping identify potential environmental and social risks. Ferrero continues to work closely with suppliers and farmer groups while publicly reporting on progress through a range of disclosures, including the Cocoa Charter Progress Report.
Certification and independently managed standards continue to play an important role within a broader responsible sourcing approach that also includes supplier due diligence, traceability, farm mapping, farmer support programmes and sector collaboration.
Transparency in action
- 99% of Ferrero cocoa sourced through certification schemes and independently managed standards
- 98.1% traceable to farm level through polygon mapping
- 100% of cocoa suppliers acknowledged the Ferrero Suppliers Code
Looking ahead
From individual stories such as Xavier's to large-scale programmes supporting farmers, communities, forests and supply-chain transparency, the 2024/25 Cocoa Charter Progress Report provides a snapshot of how Ferrero's cocoa commitments are translated into action.
The challenges facing the cocoa sector remain complex and require long-term collaboration. The results reported across Sustainable Livelihoods, Human Rights and Social Practices, Environmental Protection and Supplier Transparency demonstrate the importance of continued partnership, transparency and continuous improvement across the cocoa value chain.
-
Read more in the Cocoa Charter Progress Report
-
To receive the latest news and stories, subscribe to our newsletter here.
