Cargill invests US$2.25M in certified cocoa sourcing to support Indonesian farmers under Rainforest Alliance program
Cargill boosts sustainable cocoa sourcing in Indonesia with Rp38.8bn in premiums, supporting thousands of farmers through certification, training and improved market access.
INDONESIA – Cargill has provided approximately Rp38.8 billion (US$2.25M) in premium payments to more than 7,800 cocoa farmers in Indonesia under the Rainforest Alliance certification program, reinforcing its commitment to sustainable sourcing and farmer support.
The payments include around Rp35 billion (US$2.02M) distributed to farmers in Central Sulawesi and Rp3.8 billion allocated to farmers in East Nusa Tenggara. These premiums are paid in addition to income earned from cocoa bean sales and are tied to compliance with internationally recognised sustainability standards.
The initiative forms part of Cargill’s broader cocoa sourcing programme, which provides training, certification support and traceability systems aimed at improving productivity, maintaining bean quality and strengthening market access.
“Supporting farmers is essential to building a resilient and transparent cocoa supply chain,” said Brook Chang, Director, Sustainability, Food APAC at Cargill. “By investing in training, certification and premium payments linked to verified sustainability standards, we are helping farmers improve income and productivity while strengthening traceability and supply reliability for our customers and partners.”
In Central Sulawesi, the programme supports more than 5,600 farmers, including over 600 women farmers. Between May 2023 and February 2026, approximately 16,000 metric tonnes of Rainforest Alliance-certified cocoa beans were sourced from farmers across Parigi Moutong, Poso and North Morowali regencies.
In East Nusa Tenggara, the programme engages around 2,200 farmers. Between October 2022 and February 2026, approximately 2,000 metric tonnes of certified cocoa beans were sourced from farmers in Ende, Sikka, East Manggarai and East Flores regencies.
The certified cocoa is integrated into Cargill’s global supply chain, supporting a range of food and beverage manufacturers. The Rainforest Alliance certification framework promotes transparency through farm-level record-keeping, traceability systems and independent verification, enabling farmers to meet global market requirements.
Commenting on the programme, Lukmansyah, Team Manager for Cocoa Rainforest Alliance Indonesia, said: “The efforts and dedication of farmers are reflected in the cocoa production process, from crop maintenance to cocoa bean selection, as well as the consistent application of farm management practices.”
He added: “Certification provides farmers with a framework of defined criteria for agricultural practices and traceability, supporting implementation across the supply chain. Within this program, the premium serves as an additional incentive for farmers who participate in the Rainforest Alliance certification program and meet the established requirement.”
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