Chocolate, with its rich and indulgent flavors, is one of life’s greatest pleasures, delighting consumers worldwide. As global demand for cacao surges, the question arises: can our local cacao beans rise to meet this challenge, while empowering our local growers and protecting the environment?
To help nurture the growth of our cacao industry, a collaborative approach is essential, particularly one that empowers farmers and value chain actors through sustainable and inclusive practices. Additionally, adopting Gendered-Environmental, Social, and Governance (G-ESG) practices industry-wide could further support its growth.
With this goal in mind, Mennonite Economic Development Associates (MEDA) Philippines organized the Tapok-Tapok sa Kakaw Piyesta in Davao, the top chocolate producer in the country. Recognizing the power of collective action, the forum embraced the concept of "tapok-tapok," a local term for coming together. This gathering highlighted the importance of collaboration and unified action for meaningful change, fostering an environment where partnerships and networking could thrive.
This forum brought together farmers, cooperatives, small medium enterprises (SMEs), and industry stakeholders engaged by the Resilience and Inclusion through Investment for Sustainable Agrikultura (RIISA) Project—a five-year initiative funded by Global Affairs Canada. The project aims to create gender-inclusive, sustainable livelihoods and profitable agribusinesses for smallholder cacao farmers.
CREATING IMPACT THROUGH SUSTAINABLE AND INCLUSIVE PRACTICES
Imagine an industry where every actor, from the smallest farmer to the large agribusinesses, thrives on practices that protect natural resources, reduce environmental impact, ensure fair wages, and create decent work opportunities for all. This is not a distant dream but a tangible goal of the RIISA Project. MEDA Philippines and the Philippines Partnership for Sustainable Agriculture (PPSA) are working together to make this vision a reality by developing learning products and facilitating knowledge exchange to promote G-ESG practices.
“Through this partnership we hope to cascade learnings and best practices related to decent work creation where everyone, regardless of gender, has equal opportunities and fair treatment. We’re hopeful that we can create positive and lasting impacts in the cacao sector, benefiting farmers, communities, and the overall agricultural landscape in Mindanao and the Philippines,” shared PPSA Country Director Angel Bautista.
Angel shared that PPSA and MEDA Philippines are actively engaging and consulting with various stakeholders to understand the learning needs of the sector when it comes to decent work and sustainable and inclusive practices. These consultations will guide PPSA and MEDA Philippines in the development of the RIISA Project’s Strategic Learning Agenda (SLA) which will improve awareness of key enabling environment actors on G-ESG approaches that can be applied within the cacao market system and help improve the cacao industry.
The SLA will support the development of learning materials such as case studies, thought leadership articles, and learning events. These resources will help disseminate G-ESG practices throughout the cacao value chain, fostering a culture of sustainability and inclusivity that benefits all stakeholders. By equipping farmers, cooperatives, SMEs, and other industry actors with the knowledge and tools to implement these practices, the project aspires to increase integration of G-ESG considerations and climate-smart practices into operations of businesses, building a more resilient and equitable cacao industry.
EMPOWERING THE INDUSTRY THROUGH DIGITAL SOLUTIONS
The event also highlighted the role of digital solutions in the growth of the cacao sector. MEDA Philippines’ partners PLDT and Smart Communications, Inc. and the Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Training Institute will conduct a series of training of trainers sessions of their Digital Farmers Program to guide cooperatives, associations, and SMEs on their digital literacy journey. To support their training cascade to their fellow cacao farmers, PLDT and Smart also turned over digital connectivity tools.
"Our world now relies on technology, and these digital programs - providing access to digital applications, digital market interactions and access to information, will bring the cacao industry into the digital age," said MEDA Philippines Country Director Natalie Macawaris.
ADVANCING COLLECTIVE ACTION
The forum also celebrated partnerships between MEDA Philippines and 14 cacao SMEs, 15 cooperatives, the local government of Davao, the Davao Region Cacao Industry Development Council, and the Davao City Cacao Industry Development Council.
“I want to acknowledge the role of all actors in supporting a more resilient and productive cacao sector. Canada is playing a supporting role, but all of you in this room today and in this greater community are the principal actors in this collective effort. So let us leverage our combined expertise and the resources to overcome challenges and seize opportunities for the benefit of the cacao sector in the months and the years ahead,” said Embassy of Canada’s Ambassador, His Excellency David Hartman.
The forum also featured business-to-business and business-to-consumer exchanges, showcasing diverse products and facilitating networking opportunities. One of the partner farmers of the RIISA Project also shared regenerative farming practices such as maximizing crop diversity and use of microbial solutions to improve soil health. Despite industry challenges, such as low productivity and supply issues, the forum underscored the industry's potential to compete internationally.
“Through the RIISA Project, we will have the opportunity to support the industry through digital applications, sharing available technologies and resources, and educating them on environmentally sustainable practices to improve the business practices of cacao cooperatives and SMEs, helping them to meet their business objectives,” said Natalie.
With quality cacao beans and a skilled workforce, a promising future awaits the Philippine cacao industry. The journey may be challenging, but through collective action and innovative solutions, a brighter future for the Philippine cacao industry is within our reach.
Visit MEDA's website: https://www.meda.org/
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