According to the ODI's blog, there should now be a shift from asking why should we harness core business for development to how. The how is what the NBMST seeks to answer and put into practice through its four pilot value chain project.
Rainforest Alliance and Mars have teamed up to redouble efforts 'to help thousands of farmers meet holistic social and environmental standards so that their farmers can meet Rainforest Alliance certification'. The ultimate aim is to get the popular Galaxy bar to bear the famous Rainforest Alliance Certified frog by 2010 and Mars aims to have all of its cocoa sustainably sourced by 2020. This move bears similarities to Cadburys Dairy Milk's move to Fairtrade certified cocoa.
The BBC recently reported that Cocoa prices have hit a high in London - £1,820 per tonne - the highest price paid for cocoa since 1985. All this in the context of a downturn. The article mentions fears about falling production in parts of Africa, which could drive the price even higher.
How can small-holders be included in routes to market that capitalise on this boom?
A recent article in allafrica.com, claims that 'there is no doubt that cocoa is currently blazing a trail. Now regarded as one of the market's best performing commodities, it has defied the current global meltdown that is sending shivers down the spines of economic policy makers. The price of the commodity that is also known as the 'Tree of Life', in fact, hit a 23-year high last December.'
