First-Ever Indonesian National Indicators and Criteria for Sustainable Cocoa Farm Certification Announced

The launch of national indicators for the sustainability of cocoa in Indonesia is a positive step forward to ensure the long term prosperity and sustainability of cocoa farming in Indonesia.

14 May 2010 --- Mars Symbioscience Indonesia, along with Business Watch Indonesia (BWI), the Rainforest Alliance and UTZ, proudly announce the launch of the national indicators for the certification criteria of sustainable cocoa production. The certification criteria and the national indicators for sustainable cocoa were presented at a stakeholders meeting by the Indonesian Director General of Processing and Marketing of Agriculture Product, Professor Dr. Ir. Zaenal Bachrudin M.Sc, representing the Ministry of Agriculture. “Today is an important day for the cocoa industry as the official launch of these standards represents an opportunity for a strong future for this crop,” said Noel Janetski, the President-Director of PT. Mars Symbioscience Indonesia.

The formulation of indicators, which is important for the sustainability of cocoa, was started in January 2010 in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture, the Research Center for Indonesian Cocoa and Coffee, universities, international certification organizations, Mars, other stakeholders in cocoa industry and representative farmers.

The launch of national indicators for the sustainability of cocoa in Indonesia is a positive step forward to ensure the long term prosperity and sustainability of cocoa farming in Indonesia. “For these reasons, we anticipate full support from the Government and other stakeholders for the adoption of these criteria for cocoa sustainability and the national indicators for sustainable cocoa farming, which we hope will lead to wide-spread implementation by cocoa farmers. These important tools are expected to help the Indonesian cocoa industry to satisfy the growing global consumer demand for high quality products that are produced in an environmentally and socially responsible manner and to ensure long term prosperity of the industry” Janetski explained.

The national indicators have been developed with consideration toward Indonesian cultural practices and with appreciation of the current cocoa farming system applied by local farming communities. They set out the criteria to be used for certification of sustainable cocoa, enabling farmers, trainers and auditors to follow a uniform set of criteria for growing and certifying this crop. They will help cocoa sector stakeholders in Indonesia answer the demand for sustainable production using practical, clear, and responsible methods. Most importantly, adoption of certification standards for cocoa will have a positive impact on cocoa farmers, increasing their productivity and profitability. “This announcement continues to keep farmer’s first, helping to ensure the growth and the development of the Indonesian cocoa sector starting at the farmer level, based on the basic principles of long term economic, environmental and social sustainability.” concludes Janetski.

Indonesia plays an important role in the global cocoa community, producing around 580,000 metric tonnes of cocoa per annum, ranking third among the world’s largest cocoa producers, after the Ivory Coast and Ghana. Approximately 380,000 metric tonnes of cocoa is exported annually, generating income for the country of around US $1.2 billion.  More than 1 million farmers manage approximately 1.4 million hectares of land in the production and development of cocoa farming in Indonesia.

Mars, Incorporated, as the parent company of PT. Mars Symbioscience Indonesia, has provided support to cocoa farmers and to the development of sustainable cocoa for many years, investing funds and resources to work with cocoa farmer communities, government agencies, local and international researchers, donor organizations and numerous industry partners to drive real change in the way that cocoa farming is managed in Indonesia. “The presence of these national certification standards and indicators will help ensure sustainable cocoa production for the benefit of all stakeholders for generations to come,” added Janetski.

Harry Hendarto from Business Watch Indonesia (BWI) expressed support for the Mars initiative. Furthermore, BWI expects the launch of certification criteria and national indicators for sustainable cocoa production will bring benefits to the cocoa farmers as stakeholders. The current market trend demands fair products, environmentally and socially friendly, while farmers as stakeholders are on the frontline position to fulfill the market demands. "These tools should increase the prosperity of cocoa farmers," Hendarto explained.