Mars and ofi target net zero cocoa – summary
- Mars partners ofi on five-year net zero cocoa programme in Ecuador
- Project targets climate-smart regenerative farming across major Ecuadorian cocoa regions
- Phase one covers 960 farmers and 9,000 hectare agroforestry transition
- Practices aim to reduce emissions, boost resilience, and soil health, and improve livelihoods
- Move mirrors broader confectionery shift towards scalable region-wide climate action
Mars, Inc has announced plans to accelerate its net zero cocoa ambitions in Ecuador.
The confectionery giant is working with ingredients supplier ofi (Olam Food Ingredients) on a five-year project to “advance climate-smart and regenerative agriculture practices in cocoa production” across the South American nation, which serves as a major global supplier.
The partnership underpins Mars and ofi’s ambition to reach net zero by 2050
“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 of cocoa at Mars.
“True progress on climate requires shared ambition,” agrees Pedro Amaral, associate director and head of cocoa climate sustainability at Mars.
Phase one
Phase one will see more than 960 farmers across the vital growing regions of El Oro, Esmeraldas, Guayas, Los Ríos, Manabí, and Santo Domingo implement regenerative agriculture, across more than 9,000 hectares of farmland.
Farmers, say Mars, are transitioning from full-sun monoculture to multistrata agroforestry – a sustainable land-use system that combines trees, shrubs, and crops in multiple vertical layers to mimic natural forest structures.
By mimicking natural forest ecosystems, these systems boost cocoa production, support microorganisms and pollinators, and create natural barriers against pests and disease.
Farmers will also be equipped with tools to use low carbon fertilisers, improved crop residue management, and biochar applications, with the aim of helping strengthen long-term resilience of the land by enhancing soil health, reducing GHG emissions, and increasing CO₂ removals.
“By 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,” says Andrew Brooks, head of cocoa sustainability at ofi.
Details on phase two are yet to be announced.
A sector‑wide shift
Mars’ move in Ecuador follows a wave of similar commitments by leading confectionery and chocolate players, many of which are embedding regenerative agriculture, deforestation-free sourcing and net zero targets into their core cocoa strategies rather than treating them as add-ons.
Group-wide programmes launched by companies including Nestlé, Mondelēz International, Ferrero, Hershey, and Lindt point to a converging industry playbook – long-term investment, deeper collaboration with farmers, and a shift towards region-wide impact.
As these approaches become the norm, the competitive advantage may no longer lie in declaring climate ambitions, but in demonstrating that they can be delivered at scale in the world’s most important cocoa origins.
