Farmers in Africa grow over 70 percent of the world’s cocoa and Olam International Limited is a major player in the global cocoa business. OLM cocoa footprint is crucial to ending the deforestation of Africa's cocoa grown countries.
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| Drying cocoa beans in the sun in Ghana Olam processing |
About Olam Cocoa Farming and Cocoa Supply Chain
Cocoa farming is an industry that is largely invisible to shoppers,
yet essential to feeding the world’s sweet tooth. Cocoa processing, the process
of turning raw cocoa beans into powder, liquor, and butter is a major step in
creating the candy bars that line store shelves and
In December 2014, Archer Daniels Midland Company today announced
that it has reached an agreement to sell its global cocoa business to Olam International
Limited for $1.3 billion. Olam was established in 1989 in Nigeria by Indian
conglomerate Kewalram Chanrai Group. Olam International Limited operates in
part by growing and selling cocoa beans. The Company has operations across
approximately 20 platforms in over 70 countries.
Olam is one of the world’s largest suppliers of cocoa beans
and a globally leading processor of cocoa powders, cocoa masses, and cocoa
butters. Olam has been accused in the past of deforestation by purchasing cocoa grown illegally
in national parks and other protected forests in the Côte d’Ivoire.
From seed to pod cocoa tree processing
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Cocoa
seedlings and shade tree seedlings grown in a nursery.
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Cocoa
seedlings planted, shade trees planted.
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Ripe
cocoa pods harvested from trees.
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Pods
broken, cocoa beans and pulp removed.
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Cocoa
beans fermented under banana leaves.
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Well
fermented cocoa beans dried, either in the sun on raised mats or in solar
dryers.
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Cocoa
beans put into sacks for transport.
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Weighing
and checking at buying the station.
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Farmers
compensated individually or through co-operatives, premiums paid.
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The report accused Olam of endangering wildlife by purchasing
cocoa beans linked to deforestation; these types of illegally grown cocoa beans
are called dirty beans. However, on Olam website, it states, “Our goal is to
achieve 100% traceable and sustainable cocoa volumes from our direct
origination supply chain by 2020.”
Olam also states, “We work hand-in-hand with partners, customers, governments, NGOs and through joint initiatives to create the necessary conditions for every person whose life revolves around cocoa production to prosper.”
Olam also states, “We work hand-in-hand with partners, customers, governments, NGOs and through joint initiatives to create the necessary conditions for every person whose life revolves around cocoa production to prosper.”
Africa produces around 70 percent of the world cocoa crop, it
is the heart of Olam cocoa bean sourcing operations and they are the leading exporter
of cocoa beans from the African continent. Olam chocolate bean footprint covers Côte
d’Ivoire, Ghana, Nigeria, Cameroon, Republic of Congo, Tanzania, and Uganda. In Ghana
in 2016, Olam provided shade trees to increase ground cover and support forest conservation.