Jan Kessler, you aim to support cocoa farmers with your expertise and best practices. Could you briefly describe an example where Cameroots has been able to contribute to this sense?
We work with local cocoa farmers in Cameroon to introduce innovative and sustainable farming techniques that not only increase yields, but also improve the quality of the cocoa beans. By sharing our expertise and best practices, we empower these farmers to improve their livelihoods while promoting environmentally friendly cocoa farming practices. This results in a win-win situation: the farmers benefit from higher incomes and we gain access to superior cocoa beans, strengthening the entire cocoa supply chain. Furthermore, we have set up a complete infrastructure for the post-harvest phase to improve the processes and thus the quality of our beans.
Where do the origins of Cameroots lie?
My mother comes from Cameroon and my great-uncle has always been responsible for the cocoa industry as a cooperative. Thus, I have been connected with Cameroon since my youth and I am familiar with the matter of cocoa.
What does Cameroots expect from a membership in the Cocoa Platform?
With a SWISSCO membership, we hope to drive the cocoa sector forward, where synergies can be used, exchange with equally motivated and like-minded people and share our experiences and learnings.
Where do you see Cameroots' most significant potential to contribute to the SWISSCO Roadmap goals of improving sustainability in the cocoa value chain?
Together, projects and initiatives can be facilitated to address common challenges, improve supply chain practices, and promote sustainable cocoa production and consumption. We are happy to contribute to the positive development of the cocoa sector with our know-how and best practices. Our cocoa is traceable to the farmer, our supply chain is transparent, and our financing enables our farmers to earn a decent living.