Climate positive means that more harmful emissions (such as CO₂) and impacts are absorbed than are produced.

fairafric’s goal is to leave the planet in a better state than it was before our work began. This is not only about CO₂, but also about soil fertility, water retention, high biodiversity of plants and animals, resilience to climate change, and the creation of healthy products.

The Dynamic Agroforestry (DAF) cultivation method is based on the knowledge of Indigenous peoples in Latin America and incorporates many elements of regenerative agriculture and permaculture. Plants are grown in different layers of the forest (shrubs, mid-story trees, etc.), and a variety of local tree species are planted — including cash crops, biomass trees, and shade trees. One of the main goals is to produce large amounts of biomass to improve soil quality. Therefore, not only cocoa is grown, but also other tree and plant species such as cashew, mango, and pineapple, which can be processed by fairafric. By generating biomass, large amounts of CO₂ are captured and stored over the long term — significantly more than is emitted across fairafric’s entire value chain.

Thanks to our own solar-powered factory, fairafric emits significantly fewer emissions than conventional chocolate manufacturers. Still, unavoidable emissions (e.g., from logistics) are produced and have so far been offset through climate projects in West Africa.
Our long-term goal, however, is to leave the environment better than we found it — within our own value chain.
That’s why, starting in 2024, we will source our cocoa from a Dynamic Agroforestry (DAF) project in Ghana. According to initial external analyses by experts, this will enable fairafric to store up to four times more CO₂ in the soil than is emitted throughout our entire value chain!

Cocoa is one of the most important cash crops in West Africa. Due to a lack of alternatives and the need to generate income for their families, farmers often clear land and plant as many cocoa trees as possible on it. After several years of intensive cultivation, the soil’s nutrient reserves are depleted, making heavy use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides necessary. In Ghana, conventional cocoa farming is responsible for the deforestation of 25% of the rainforest.

Deforestation releases large amounts of CO₂ into the atmosphere. In addition, the cultivation of monocultures and the heavy use of pesticides degrade soil quality, reducing its ability to retain water and store carbon.
At the same time, progressing climate change leads to increasingly unpredictable weather patterns and more frequent climate-related disasters. Because conventionally grown cocoa trees have significantly lower resilience, crop failures are already occurring today, while yields from regenerative methods such as DAF remain largely stable, as the plants are healthier and far more resilient.

The cocoa tree is a shade-loving plant. This means it needs larger trees (e.g., palms) above it to provide shade and help it grow and thrive optimally. In DAF systems, trees

External experts have determined in initial analyses that by storing biomass in the soil, fairafric can sequester up to four times more CO₂ in the long term than is emitted across the entire value chain.

External experts have determined in initial analyses that by storing biomass in the soil, fairafric can sequester up to four times more CO₂ in the long term than is emitted across the entire value chain.

1. Higher cocoa premiums
In addition to paying the highest organic premium in West Africa (692 USD/MT), fairafric pays farmers an additional climate premium of 150 USD/MT. This is several times higher than the regular organic premium or premiums from certifications such as Fairtrade.

2. Diversified income
Growing multiple cash crops helps diversify income and enables farmers to earn money even outside the cocoa harvest season.

3. Improved soil quality & greater climate resilience
By improving soil fertility and through the other soil-related benefits of DAF, the plants become significantly stronger and more resistant to environmental stress. The improved soil quality also enhances the quality and yield of the fruit. This allows the land to be cultivated sustainably and naturally over the long term.

With our new Visitor Center, we want to give our customers the opportunity to gain deep insights into our operations. The factory tour is combined with a visit to our farmer communities — all in one day! A world first!