Brazilian cocoa producers bet on frog quality

Farms that meet the standards are better organized and able to increase production and quality while protecting natural resources and the rights and benefits of workers. In addition, farms meeting the standards can carry the Rainforest Alliance CertifiedTM seal, which is increasingly recognized in key consumer markets.

Growing interest in certification

"We see a clear trend of increasing demands for sustainability certification of cocoa. Exporting companies are particularly interested, but there are definite signs that we will also see this demand soon in the domestic market, especially for the production of high-end chocolate", says Lineu Siqueira, certification manager of Imaflora. 

Imaflora – Institute for Agricultural and Forest Management and Certification - a nonprofit Brazilian NGO and a founding member of the SAN - is currently the only institution in Brazil offering certification according to the SAN standards. 

Focus on quality

Maurício Dati de Pinho, Commercial Director of Indústria Brasileira de Cacau (IBC - Brazilian Cocoa Industry), located in Rio da Pedra, state of São Paulo, and a producer who just received Rainforest Alliance certification, is betting his money on this trend.

IBC, which has been in operation now for five years, processes around one thousand tons of cocoa per month. It plans to encourage the establishment of a cocoa production chain in the same fashion as the terroirs for wines in Europe. 
"We intend to value the aroma potential of each microclimate. In the long run, we expect that consumers will be able to identify the characteristic taste and aroma of chocolate manufactured with cocoa produced in farms located in Ilhéus, Itabuna or in the state of Espírito Santo and so on". 

Mr. de Pinho, whose company supplies manufacturers of gourmet chocolate, expects to have his entire production distinguished with the Rainforest Alliance Certified frog in the coming years.

Growing demands

In 2009, the area of cocoa farms with Rainforest Alliance Certified label increased by about 40% in the state of Bahia. Bahia, located in northeastern Brazil, is the main cocoa producing region in the country.

The total production of cocoa certified to SAN standards in Brazil is approximately 500 tons per year. The cocoa is exported mainly to Europe and Japan for use in the manufacture of fine chocolates. 

This trend is expected to continue due to the growing demand for agricultural products from sustainable sources.


Story © IMAFLORA. Imaflora (Institute for Agricultural and Forest Management and Certification) is a Brazilian nonprofit, nongovernmental organization established in 1995 to promote the conservation and sustainable use of natural resources and to generate social benefits in the agricultural and forest sectors. For more information, visit www.imaflora.org.