Belgium’s Puratos Group, through its Philippine subsidiary, has partnered with Kennemer Foods International, Inc. to expand and ensure the sustainability of Davao Oriental’s cacao industry.
Davao Oriental is a province in Davao Region in Mindanao and its cacao is considered as one of the best quality cacao, comparable to the best cacao from top producers in the world.
According to a spokesperson, “Puratos is a Belgian company that is into buying cacao and sustainable agriculture. Puratos wants to ensure that cacao cultivation is ecological and will go on from generation to generation.”
Puratos goal is to ensure it supplies products that are sustainably sourced while cocoa farmers will also get sufficient income to support their livelihood.
Puratos Philippines, Inc. sells bakery, patisserie and chocolate products as well as provides seminars to businesses nationwide on baking trends and innovations. It has also set up a Cacao Trace Center, together with Kennemer, in Davao Oriental’s capital, Mati City, as part of its sustainable cocoa sourcing program that aims to ensure high quality goods and high income for growers.
Kennemer manages its own farms and has a contract growing program in various parts of Mindanao. In Davao Oriental, it is engaged with about 4,000 cacao farmers.
Consumers are now becoming more health conscious and are becoming more aware of environmental issues. Demand for cocoa and chocolate products using sustainably sourced ingredients are the way to go in the future. As such, companies that have already invested into sustainability are poised to reap the benefits from their investment in the next decade or so.
