Confectionery and snack giant Mars and global food and agribusiness company Olam Food Ingredients have announced a five-year strategic collaboration in Ecuador to help promote climate-smart and regenerative agriculture practices across their shared cocoa supply chain.
After 15 years of working together on sustainable cocoa sourcing and a decade in Ecuador, the latest collaboration was in line with both companies’ 2050 Net Zero ambitions.
“Building on our long-standing collaboration in cocoa sourcing, this effort demonstrates our belief that when companies share common goals, they can deepen cooperation and drive more meaningful impact at scale,” said Benjamin Guilbert, global vice president, Cocoa at Mars.
In place from 2025-2029, the initiative would help reduce the carbon footprint for cocoa in Ecuador, boost productivity and enhance farmer resilience, Mars said on 15 April.
The first phase would introduce regenerative agriculture across more than 9,000ha of farmland. This would involve more than 960 farmers across the major cocoa-growing regions of El Oro, Esmeraldas, Guayas, Los Ríos, Manabí and Santo Domingo.
Mars said farmers were transitioning from full-sun monoculture to multi-strata agroforestry, which – by mimicking natural forest ecosystems – boosted cocoa production, supported microorganisms and pollinators, and created natural barriers against pests and disease.
Farmers would also be equipped with tools to use low carbon fertilisers, improved crop residue management and biochar applications to help strengthen long-term resilience in cocoa farming by enhancing soil health and reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and increasing CO₂ removals and cocoa crop yields.
