Sustainability projects: the commitment of ICAM

Since the 1980s ICAM has been committed to sustainability; both in terms of the study and identification of the best cocoa plantations, and regarding the bonds, solid and lasting, with farmers and local communities. The relationships that ICAM establishes with farmers and local cooperatives are based on relationships that wish to protect and enhance the value of all the operators of the sector, ensuring the growth of these relations, as well as fairness, transparency and respect.

A supply chain of sustainable chocolate
The commitment of ICAM in working as a producer of sustainable chocolate, is reflected in the way they create partnerships with the farmers and the land owners. The interventions of ICAM in the countries of the cocoa’s origin relate to the training of farmers and to the improvement of infrastructure. This approach has allowed us to support the continuous improvement of the quality of the fruits coming from these plantations. The projects that ICAM brings forward in the Dominican Republic, Uganda and Peru are an example of this commitment: the direct relationships, without intermediaries and recognition to producers of a fair compensation, which includes, in addition to the remuneration of the harvest, also added value that considers the human capital, and long-term purchasing contracts, are the guarantee of a sustainable chocolate supply chain.

Eco-sustainable production
ICAM has always been attentive to work in such a way to have total respect of the environment, committing themselves to a constant monitoring and improvement of the environmental aspects. Concretely, ICAM endeavours to ensure responsible use and optimised energy and, where possible, an implementation of renewable energy sources.
The quality and integrity of the products at all stages of production are also guaranteed by a sophisticated system of total traceability, according to strict protocols, that foresee very rigorous tests at every level of the production chain.

Uganda: partnership with farmers

In the Ugandan district of Bundibugyo, ICAM has built its own subsidiary, ICAM Chocolate Uganda Ltd, in order to implement a major development project. A centre for cocoa collection, according to the most modern processing technique standards, has been set up, together with support to farmers who have been trained in the latest farming know-how. ICAM’s interventions have led to an improved profitability of the plantations and to enhancing the precious cocoa harvests of these mountain lands, reducing the risk of harvest loss and bringing out the intrinsic qualities of this cocoa. A project that demonstrates ICAM’s commitment to working with the utmost respect for the people and the environment, at a fair price that guarantees marketing and development opportunities both to sellers and buyers.

Peru: partnership with farmers

In Peru, ICAM has always been committed to establishing direct relationships with local cooperatives, with which it carries out partnership activities in total compliance with environmental sustainability criteria, ensuring preservation of the existing eco-system, and social and economic sustainability criteria, which contribute to the welfare of the members. ICAM strongly believes in environmental and social sustainability and this is reflected in all its activities.
In Peru, ICAM cooperates with the following local cooperatives: APROCAM, ACOPAGRO, Cacao Alto Huallaga, Cacao Vrae, Cooperative Cat Tocache, ACATPA. Partnerships with these co-operatives are long lasting and have always aimed at encouraging the strengthening and growth of the cooperatives themselves. ICAM in fact guarantees the purchase of the production and total support for obtaining loans and financial benefits in addition to support for identifying specific aromatic qualities.
Improving the quality of life of its members and increasing their incomes by improving the quality of the cocoa are the strengths of the partnerships which ICAM has established with these Peruvian cooperatives.
In particular, there is an on-going joint project with the cooperative APROCAM for identifying the best clones in each plantation, according to different criteria: the number of beans per cocoa pod, the thickness of the cocoa pod shell and the number of fruits on the plant. When carrying out activities and the business relationship with APROCAM, ICAM pays a purchase price for cocoa which equals the highest ones in the market, together with a premium for the clone project.

Dominican Republic: partnership with farmers

ICAM has been present in the Dominican Republic since the 80s, and has contributed significantly to the development of this territory. Here ICAM has selected the finest cocoa, the “Hispaniola” cocoa, from some of the most exclusive plantations in the Duarte province. Right from the beginning, ICAM established direct relationships with local cooperatives, such as Conacado, Coopragro, Coopcanor and the manufacturing companies Rizek and Aprocaci.
Since 1988 it has supported the Cooperative CONACADO, the main local cooperative of small producers, in order to implement and develop cocoa fermentation: this has enabled promoting local raw materials of the highest level, improving their quality, achieving inclusion in the “Fine or Flavour” category by the International Cocoa Organization (ICCO) and the recognition of organic certifications.