Our group involvement

The CEMOI Group has been involved with local cocoa farmers since the 1980s. This commitment is an integral part of our sustainable development policy (social, eco-responsible, etc.)

CEMOI and our fair trade network: farmers and cocoa farming

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To be able to offer quality chocolate of rich and varied aromatic properties, of organic origin and according to sustainable fair trade rulings, we have been working on developing our fair trade cocoa network for over 10 years.

Andre Deberdt, CEMOI specialist in organic cocoa farming development programmes, runs our different networks. These programmes are based on long term commitment, close partnership with the cocoa farmers and sustainable development.

This commitment involves:

A respect of the environment and its biodiversity,
A respect for human dignity by guaranteeing correct income for the farmers and their families,
A qualitative commitment necessary for a stable company policy and promising future.

CEMOI: a committed partner

Visuel_9 Andre Deberdt regularly visits the cocoa farmers to analyse technical and social situations and find suitable stable solutions.

In transmitting our competence to small farmers we help them to operate as stronger, more efficient and well-managed cooperatives.

We are continually working on our sustainable economical and social relations as an integral part of our organic farming programme. Our strong commitment to technical and financial assistance and a minimum price guarantee means that we can offer our cocoa farmers work and therefore a better future.

Interview with Lenin De Leon, President of the Union of the Ecuador National Cocoa Producers (UNOCACE)

“Lots of things have changed since we have been working in partnership with CEMOI.
The collaboration has enabled us to create UNOCACE, a cooperative federation, whose role is essentially long term management. Thanks to CEMOI, the farmers have guaranteed sales for their entire production, part of the CEMOI 5 year contract. This exchange benefits all concerned.

The farmers are more involved than ever, they take more care in their plantations and are constantly looking at ways to improve the quality. The younger generations are more wiling to carry on the plantation farming after their parents as they are assured of a future that cocoa farming can now offer them.

Our aim is to make UNOCACE a stable federation that will take care of the re-distribution of the federation’s gains to the farmers to ensure, amongst other things, better access to health services and education for their children.

We are really pleased that the market recognises the efforts we are making for the quality of our plantations and post-harvest control. This alliance between the farmer, the cooperatives and the industrialists has the added advantage of improving the quality of our cacao and offering a solid assistance to our farmers”.