Barry Callebaut and Prova: empowering vanilla farmers in Madagascar

The aim is to diversify and stabilize revenues of vanilla farmers through the introduction of cocoa farming.  

With additional services, the project will also increase levels of vanilla curing at the farm level and support the adoption of Good Agricultural Practices (GAP). The joint project activities will improve the livelihoods of the vanilla farmers located in the district of Bemanevika, located in the SAVA region, the main vanilla growing area in Madagascar In return, the activities are playing an important role in Barry Callebaut’s and Prova’s efforts to extend the sourcing of sustainable vanilla and cocoa.

To accomplish this, Barry Callebaut will apply its long-standing cocoa expertise in association with Prova’s local vanilla know-how, creating synergies on the ground for the benefit of the local vanilla farmers. Both Barry Callebaut and Prova will fund and support local communities through social, health and education programs. IDH, the Sustainable Trade Initiative, will support Barry Callebaut’s and Prova’s project with professional consulting services as well as financing. The project will run over the next five years. First results regarding the newly introduced cocoa production are expected after three years.