Cocoa

Develop insetting agroforestry projects in your supply chain and supply shed adapted to global industry frameworks.

Countries of Intervention

PUR currently has on-the-ground teams in 10 cocoa-producing countries, where nearly 70% of global cocoa is produced. We have worked in Ivory Coast, the largest producer of cocoa since 2018.

Agroforestry as a Scope 3 and Supply Chain resilience Solution.

With the right species mix and agronomic design, transitioning cocoa plots to agroforestry models improves cocoa yields thanks to shade, better water retention and healthier soils. Planting trees with valuable crops (fruits, nuts, medicinal or timber products) brings additional revenues to farmers. At PUR, we have developed approaches that tailor agroforestry designs to balance carbon sequestration with biodiversity impacts and farmer preferences.

Carbon: PUR has certified the carbon impact of these projects under SustainCert, Gold Standard and Verra methodologies. We support long-term permanence through digitally-enabled monitoring tools and a long-term on-the-ground presence.

Nature: As new frameworks emerge, we support our customers in staying at the leading edge of measuring and certifying ecosystem benefits. PUR has ongoing pilots to capture volumetric water benefits following WRI’s Volumetric Water Benefit Accounting (VWBA) framework, and to measure biodiversity impacts leveraging Cornell’s Biodiversity Progress Index.

Agroforestry at Scale

PUR ensures quality control and supports local actors in maintaining quality at scale through all steps of implementation.

Working within your Supply Chain

With a track record collaborating with actors across the cocoa supply chain – including brands, roasters, and traders – PUR leverages its experience to design projects that are tailored to each customer’s needs. This flexibility allows us to deliver a wide range of services, from full project implementation and field operations to advisory support, MRV, and carbon certification management.
PUR will adapt to your supply chain footprint, existing on-the-ground activities and projects, available customer teams and their level of expertise.



Cargill: Cocoa agroforestry






Strengthening cocoa supply chains through agroforestry and community resilience


Since 2019 in Côte d’Ivoire and 2021 in Ghana, Cargill has partnered with PUR to deliver a long-term, community-based agroforestry program designed to transform its cocoa supply chain. This initiative goes beyond combating deforestation; it empowers smallholder farmers, supports resilient livelihoods, and contributes to Scope 3 emissions reductions through certified carbon removals.

To date, more than 2.3 million trees have been delivered across the two countries, restoring over 13,000 hectares of land and supporting more than 19,000 cocoa farmers. With over 20 locally relevant tree species introduced, the program not only enhances biodiversity but also integrates income-generating opportunities and supports long-term sustainability in cocoa landscapes.









Mondelez: Cocoa agroforestry






Restoring forests and empowering cocoa communities through the Cocoa Life Program


Through its Cocoa Life Program, launched in 2014, Mondelez set out to tackle the root challenges facing cocoa farmers, focusing on sustainable farming, community empowerment, and forest restoration. Since 2020, PUR has supported the program’s rollout in Indonesia, helping bring these priorities to life on the ground.

In partnership with local farmers, more than 97,000 trees have been planted across 1,900 hectares, with over 1,900 farming households engaged to date. Fourteen different tree species have been introduced, selected for their local relevance and environmental benefits. Alongside reforestation and agroforestry activities, the program supports Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) training and farmer empowerment initiatives to build long-term sustainability across cocoa landscapes.









Hershey: Cocoa agroforestry






Scaling agroforestry to boost farmer income and climate resilience in cocoa landscapes


As part of the Hershey Income Accelerator Program (HIAP), launched under the company’s broader Cocoa For Good strategy, PUR joined a coalition of partners – including CARE International and Rainforest Alliance – to drive sustainable change in Côte d’Ivoire’s cocoa sector. Since 2023, PUR has led the agroforestry component, focused on planting one million trees by 2028 and embedding strong monitoring and permanence frameworks.

To date, over 240,000 trees have been planted across 5,300 hectares, directly supporting more than 3,000 cocoa farmers. Twenty-one native and naturalized tree species have been introduced, with a focus on long-term ecological restoration and certified carbon removals to address Scope 3 emissions. The program also prioritizes robust Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) systems to ensure data-backed progress and ongoing adaptation.







Get in touch with one of PUR's specialists on cocoa

Russell supports companies in the development of new projects in cocoa supply chains.

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