3 Years of Changing Producing Regions Through Chocolate Sales - Planting Shade Trees and Building Cassava Processing Plants. Nissin Kako Launches Phase 2 of Cacao Farmer Support Program
Nissin Kako completed Phase 1 of its Ghana cacao farmer support project, building a cassava plant and planting shade trees. Phase 2 focuses on agroforestry.
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- 📰 Published: April 21, 2026 at 19:10
- 🔍 Collected: April 23, 2026 at 10:01 (38h 51m after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 24, 2026 at 04:55 (18h 53m after Collected)
Nissin Kako Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Chuo-ku, Tokyo; President and CEO: Hiroaki Naoi), a manufacturer of confectionery ingredients centered on chocolate, has completed the first phase of its production area support program for cacao farmers in the Republic of Ghana, and will launch a new second phase of the support program. This is being carried out by participating in the "Do well by doing good." initiative. In the second phase, we will work to support the spread of "agroforestry," which combines agriculture and forest management.
■ What is "Do well by doing good."?
"Do well by doing good." is promoted by imperfect, which operates a food business that considers sustainability, with the desire to make the world and society a little better starting from what we can do in response to various social issues behind each product and service.
Nissin Kako has set "Chocolate makes you smile." as its value proposition, and has continued to manufacture and sell chocolate raw materials for confectionery professionals. While chocolate is widely loved, there are many issues in the production areas of cacao beans, its main ingredient, so we have participated in this activity since April 2022. As part of this activity, our "Sustainable Chocolate Series" products return a portion of their sales to the production areas as activity funds for the support program.
An activity slogan stating, "Let's make the world and society better by doing good things."
■ Challenges faced by cacao producing areas in Ghana and Phase 1 support
In Ghana, one of the world's leading cacao-producing countries, there are various issues that need to be solved for sustainable cacao production. Reports include forest reduction due to agricultural land expansion and timber demand, as well as the impact of gold mining (Galamsey) on agricultural land, calling for environmental conservation efforts. In addition, activities to support the living infrastructure and human rights of producers, such as securing educational opportunities for children, preventing child labor, and supporting women's independence and social advancement, will become even more important in the future.
Based on this situation, Nissin Kako implemented the following two types of support in its first phase of support through MC AgriAlliance Ltd. (*).
* MC AgriAlliance Ltd.: As a member of the Mitsubishi Corporation Group, handles the import and sale of agricultural raw materials including cacao beans. Works on sourcing raw materials with consideration for sustainability, such as providing agricultural guidance in producing areas and supporting children's school attendance.
① Support for the construction of a cassava processing plant
We built a processing plant to process cassava (a type of potato), a staple food, to increase its added value in a village with thriving cacao production in the Republic of Ghana. In the center of the village, where a dirt road runs and houses with wooden frames, mud walls, and tin roofs stand, this building with an eye-catching bright purple exterior has become a new hub for the community.
At the processing plant, female farmers are taking the lead in processing cassava into the traditional food "Gari." What was valued in this support was not providing immediate supplies like motorcycles or agricultural machinery, but creating "a system where the community can be independent and enduring." With the side income from the products created at the processing plant, they will be able to procure the necessary materials themselves. We believe that this "cycle of independence" is the true purpose of the support.
During a site visit in 2025, the following voices were heard from the community:
- "With the income from cassava processing, we were able to dig a well in the village. We were also able to repair the school roof."
- "The processing plant is also used as a community gathering place. Weddings and funerals are now held here."
- "Now, 5 neighboring communities jointly use this processing plant."
The sight of women, who once primarily played a supplementary role on cacao farms, taking the initiative to generate income is giving vitality to the entire community.
A cassava processing plant built with support. Processing cassava into a traditional West African food called Gari.
② Planting shade trees
If cacao trees are continuously exposed to direct sunlight, their lifespan is limited to about 25 to 30 years, but planting shade trees can be expected to continue harvests for 50 to 80 years. We provided and planted 10,000 to 20,000 fast-growing evergreen trees to work on preserving the cacao forests and ecosystems.
During the site inspection, we confirmed how farmers were carefully practicing pruning and environmental maintenance under local agricultural instructors. The 37-year-old farmer who runs the model farm we inspected this time has nearly 20 years of cacao cultivation experience and manages farmland nearly 6 times the average in Ghana (about 1 hectare). Proper sunlight management and ensuring ventilation using shade trees were also effective in suppressing diseases such as black pod (mold).
■ What is "Do well by doing good."?
"Do well by doing good." is promoted by imperfect, which operates a food business that considers sustainability, with the desire to make the world and society a little better starting from what we can do in response to various social issues behind each product and service.
Nissin Kako has set "Chocolate makes you smile." as its value proposition, and has continued to manufacture and sell chocolate raw materials for confectionery professionals. While chocolate is widely loved, there are many issues in the production areas of cacao beans, its main ingredient, so we have participated in this activity since April 2022. As part of this activity, our "Sustainable Chocolate Series" products return a portion of their sales to the production areas as activity funds for the support program.
An activity slogan stating, "Let's make the world and society better by doing good things."
■ Challenges faced by cacao producing areas in Ghana and Phase 1 support
In Ghana, one of the world's leading cacao-producing countries, there are various issues that need to be solved for sustainable cacao production. Reports include forest reduction due to agricultural land expansion and timber demand, as well as the impact of gold mining (Galamsey) on agricultural land, calling for environmental conservation efforts. In addition, activities to support the living infrastructure and human rights of producers, such as securing educational opportunities for children, preventing child labor, and supporting women's independence and social advancement, will become even more important in the future.
Based on this situation, Nissin Kako implemented the following two types of support in its first phase of support through MC AgriAlliance Ltd. (*).
* MC AgriAlliance Ltd.: As a member of the Mitsubishi Corporation Group, handles the import and sale of agricultural raw materials including cacao beans. Works on sourcing raw materials with consideration for sustainability, such as providing agricultural guidance in producing areas and supporting children's school attendance.
① Support for the construction of a cassava processing plant
We built a processing plant to process cassava (a type of potato), a staple food, to increase its added value in a village with thriving cacao production in the Republic of Ghana. In the center of the village, where a dirt road runs and houses with wooden frames, mud walls, and tin roofs stand, this building with an eye-catching bright purple exterior has become a new hub for the community.
At the processing plant, female farmers are taking the lead in processing cassava into the traditional food "Gari." What was valued in this support was not providing immediate supplies like motorcycles or agricultural machinery, but creating "a system where the community can be independent and enduring." With the side income from the products created at the processing plant, they will be able to procure the necessary materials themselves. We believe that this "cycle of independence" is the true purpose of the support.
During a site visit in 2025, the following voices were heard from the community:
- "With the income from cassava processing, we were able to dig a well in the village. We were also able to repair the school roof."
- "The processing plant is also used as a community gathering place. Weddings and funerals are now held here."
- "Now, 5 neighboring communities jointly use this processing plant."
The sight of women, who once primarily played a supplementary role on cacao farms, taking the initiative to generate income is giving vitality to the entire community.
A cassava processing plant built with support. Processing cassava into a traditional West African food called Gari.
② Planting shade trees
If cacao trees are continuously exposed to direct sunlight, their lifespan is limited to about 25 to 30 years, but planting shade trees can be expected to continue harvests for 50 to 80 years. We provided and planted 10,000 to 20,000 fast-growing evergreen trees to work on preserving the cacao forests and ecosystems.
During the site inspection, we confirmed how farmers were carefully practicing pruning and environmental maintenance under local agricultural instructors. The 37-year-old farmer who runs the model farm we inspected this time has nearly 20 years of cacao cultivation experience and manages farmland nearly 6 times the average in Ghana (about 1 hectare). Proper sunlight management and ensuring ventilation using shade trees were also effective in suppressing diseases such as black pod (mold).