Sunbeth Global Concepts has launched Orange Cocoa, a long-term sustainability framework designed to transform cocoa production, improve farmers’ livelihoods and strengthen environmental protection across West Africa.
The initiative is built around three strategic pillars—Better Cocoa Better Life and Better Planet—and outlines measurable commitments aimed at addressing some of the most pressing challenges facing the cocoa industry with implementation targets extending to 2050.
As one of the world’s most important agricultural commodities cocoa remains a major source of income for millions of smallholder farmers across West Africa. However, the sector continues to face challenges including declining yields, ageing plantations, climate change impacts, deforestation, child labour concerns and persistent rural poverty all of which threaten the long-term sustainability of cocoa production.
Speaking on the initiative, Oyinkansola Owoyemi described Orange Cocoa as the company’s strategic response to the growing economic, environmental and regulatory pressures shaping the future of the global cocoa industry.
According to Owoyemi, the framework establishes clear accountability structures, measurable performance targets, and transparent reporting systems to ensure sustained progress across the company’s cocoa sourcing operations.
Under the Better Cocoa pillar, the company plans to train 100,000 cocoa farmers in sustainable agricultural and environmental practices by 2040. It also aims to distribute one million hybrid cocoa seedlings across its sourcing communities to improve productivity and farm resilience.
As part of the initiative, more than 60,000 hybrid cocoa seedlings will be distributed to farmers in 2026 alone. The company also plans to establish three regional cocoa quality testing hubs to enhance product quality, productivity and compliance with international market standards.
Through the Better Life pillar, Orange Cocoa will implement a Child Labour Monitoring and Remediation System (CLMRS) to identify and support vulnerable children in cocoa-producing communities. The framework provides that every child identified under the programme will receive and complete an approved remediation plan within one year.
Owoyemi stressed that improving the welfare and economic stability of cocoa farmers is critical to the future of the industry noting that sustainable supply chains depend heavily on social and economic development within farming communities.
On environmental sustainability, the Better Planet pillar commits the company to planting 300,000 shade trees by 2040 to support biodiversity conservation, improve soil health, and strengthen climate resilience across cocoa-producing areas.
The company explained that the framework also positions it to comply with evolving international trade requirements particularly the European Union Deforestation Regulation which requires exporters to provide verified geolocation data, due diligence documentation and comprehensive farm-level traceability.
According to the company Orange Cocoa’s traceability and environmental monitoring systems are expected to improve market access, attract climate financing and impact investments and create opportunities for premium market partnerships and long-term international supply agreements.
Stakeholders have described the initiative as a significant step toward building a more sustainable, inclusive and resilient cocoa industry capable of supporting farmers, protecting the environment and strengthening West Africa’s position in the global cocoa market.
