Cocoa around the world
Although a native of the Amazon basin and other tropical areas of South and Central America (where wild varieties still grow in the forests), cocoa is now grown in Africa, the Caribbean and Asia. Different types of cocoa are selected for cultivation in the various growing areas.
Most of the world's cocoa is grown in a narrow belt 10 degrees either side of the Equator because the trees grow well in humid tropical climates with regular rains and a short dry season.
The main producers of cocoa around the world are:
- 75% of world production comes from West Africa - Ghana (which grows some of the best quality cocoa in the world), Nigeria ,Côte D'Ivoire and Cameroon.
- 25% comes from South America and Asia - Brazil, Ecuador, and in Malaysia and Indonesia where cocoa is a relatively new crop.
Cadbury is a member of the International Cocoa Initiative (ICI) and is represented on its board. We are active in responsible cocoa sourcing.
In 2004, Cadbury announced a partnership with Earthwatch and the Ghana Nature Conservation Research Centre (NCRC) to launch a three-year project to improve biodiversity of cocoa farms in Ghana and establish the country's first cocoa farm eco-tourism initiative.