Barry Callebaut unveils its first Cocoa Horizons Truck

Barry Callebaut unveiled a unique addition to its Cocoa Horizons sustainability initiative – the Cocoa Horizons Truck: A multi-purpose mobile unit powered by solar energy, which provides space for farmer training sessions in good agricultural practices, basic health care services, literacy training and child labour sensitization programs. The Cocoa Horizons Truck, built in Belgium, will now be shipped to Côte d’Ivoire where it will travel through the cocoa growing regions as of July. The Cocoa Horizons Truck is a pilot project and part of Barry Callebaut’s plan to significantly step up the impact of its Quality Partner Program (QPP), a cocoa farming program which is an integral part of the company’s 10-year Cocoa Horizons sustainability initiative.

The team on board the truck will include Barry Callebaut’s own farmer training experts. Depending on the needs of the respective community, a nurse and a teacher will also be on board to provide basic health care, such as vaccination programs and educational services. The Cocoa Horizons Truck will start its journey in San Pedro, a major cocoa growing area in the West of Côte d’Ivoire, gradually moving East. It will visit every village three to four times a year, staying for about one week at a time. Part of the pilot program will be to assess the needs of each community and to adapt the truck’s training program where necessary.

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