Mars & Ofi: Net Zero Cocoa Farms & Sustainable Supply Chains
A five-year partnership between Mars, Incorporated and Olam Food Ingredients (Ofi) could signal a significant step forward in sustainable cocoa production.
The collaboration aims to accelerate net zero cocoa farming in Ecuador through regenerative agriculture and climate-smart practices that prioritise environmental restoration alongside farmer prosperity.
The initiative builds upon more than a decade of joint work in Ecuador and more than 15 years of global collaboration between the two companies.
At its core, the programme seeks to transform conventional cocoa farming into a climate-positive system that reduces GHG emissions, restores soil health and enhances ecosystem resilience across participating farms.
Agroforestry and regenerative practices
The collaboration will support more than 960 farmers across six key cocoa-growing regions in Ecuador, including El Oro, Esmeraldas, Guayas, Los RĂos, ManabĂ and Santo Domingo.
These farmers will have the opportunity to implement regenerative agriculture techniques, with agroforestry serving as a central component of the transition away from monoculture systems.
By shifting toward more diverse, forest-like farming structures, the programme aims to cover more than 9,000 hectares of farmland, an area roughly equivalent to the size of the Greek island of Santorini.
This landscape-level approach could help restore ecological balance while supporting long-term cocoa productivity through natural systems rather than resource-intensive inputs.
"Building on our long-standing collaboration in cocoa sourcing, this effort demonstrates our belief that when companies share common goals, they can deepen cooperation and drive more meaningful impact at scale," says Benjamin Guilbert, Global Vice President, Cocoa at Mars.
"We value Ofi's ongoing commitment to helping Mars realise our vision of a more modern, inclusive and sustainable cocoa ecosystem that can support farmers and the environment."
Climate mitigation at farm level
A key sustainability focus of the initiative lies in its approach to reducing the carbon footprint of cocoa production.
Farmers will be supported to adopt low-carbon fertilisers, improved crop residue management and biochar applications, methods designed to enhance soil fertility while minimising environmental impact.
These interventions aim to reduce GHG emissions, increase carbon dioxide removals and improve overall crop yields.
The emphasis on soil health could prove particularly significant, as healthy soils not only sequester carbon but also support water retention, biodiversity and natural pest resistance.
"Together with Mars, we're scaling up regenerative practices like agroforestry and biochar in Ecuador aimed at cutting greenhouseâgas emissions and helping to secure the future supply of cocoa," says Andrew Brooks, Head of Cocoa Sustainability at Ofi.
âBy making these practices more accessible to farmers, we hope to reduce barriers for implementation and costly inputs, while opening new income opportunities that can make a real difference to building more resilient livelihoods.
âOur latest climate action collaboration with Mars is sparked by our shared, scienceâbased net zero ambitions to create change for a stronger food system so we can continue to enjoy the chocolate products we all love.
âWorking jointly in Ecuador for 10 years, weâre developing local insights to help accelerate positive impact for the people and landscapes vital for cocoa.â
Science-based targets and systemic change
The programme aligns with both companies' net zero by 2050 ambitions, validated by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi).
This framework provides a rigorous foundation for climate action that extends beyond individual farm practices to encompass entire supply chain transformation.
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Beyond direct environmental outcomes, the collaboration is expected to benefit an estimated 4,800 people indirectly through improved productivity and reduced input costs.
By lowering barriers to sustainable farming methods, the initiative aims to create more stable and resilient income opportunities for cocoa farmers while simultaneously addressing climate challenges.
"True progress on climate requires shared ambition and mutually beneficial value," says Pedro Amaral, Associate Director, Head of Cocoa Climate Sustainability, Mars.
"Having net zero targets validated by SBTi enables a bold framework for Mars and Ofi to invest together in the long term in solutions that are good for cocoa farmers, good for the environment and good for the future of our supply chain."
The partnership represents a model of how companies with shared sustainability commitments can co-invest in farmer-centred solutions that support climate mitigation, ecosystem restoration and long-term supply chain resilience across the cocoa sector.