Coffee Break Seminar: Is the implementation of cocoa companies’ forest policies on track to effectively and equitably address deforestation in West Africa?

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• Thomas Addoah, PhD Candidate, Department of Geography, Cambridge Conservation Initiative, University of Cambridge
• Friday 15 November 2024, 14:00-15:00
• Weston Seminar Room (2.49), David Attenborough Building and on-line.

If you have a question about this talk, please contact A B Youngman.

A short presentation by Thomas Addoah, PhD Candidate, Department of Geography, Cambridge Conservation Initiative, University of Cambridge, entitled Is the implementation of cocoa companies’ forest policies on track to effectively and equitably address deforestation in West Africa? followed by a Q&A and discussion with the speaker.

Coffee Break Seminars are a relaxed learning and discussion forum for our food security community that take place every Friday in person and online during term time at 2pm, UK time.

In-person: Weston Seminar Room (2.49), David Attenborough Building

On-line: Please mail coordinator@globalfood.cam.ac.uk for the Teams link to join the meeting.

Abstract:

Tropical forests are crucial for climate stability, biodiversity conservation, food production, and sustaining rural livelihoods. Despite global commitments to conserve and restore these ecosystems, they continue to disappear rapidly, largely driven by the expansion of agricultural commodities. In West Africa, Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana are the leading producers of cocoa, a sector facing significant challenges such as smallholder poverty and deforestation. In response, cocoa and chocolate companies have adopted and implemented forest-focused supply chain policies (FSPs)— a form of voluntary environmental governance aimed at combating deforestation, restoring forests, and improving farmers’ livelihoods.

Drawing on 91 semi-structured interviews with company representatives and other stakeholders in the cocoa sector, as well as an analysis of company reports and policy documents, this talk will highlight research findings on the design and implementation of these forest policies, their effectiveness, and their equity. It will also explore how these policies can enhance conservation and livelihood outcomes in the cocoa sector of West Africa.

“https://www.globalfood.cam.ac.uk/events/coffee-break-seminar-implementation-cocoa-companies-forest-policies-track-effectively-and”

This talk is part of the Global Food Security Coffee Break Seminars series.

This talk is included in these lists:

• Global Food Security Coffee Break Seminars
• Weston Seminar Room (2.49), David Attenborough Building and on-line

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