Vegetables Market Systems Analysis
January 8, 2024
Snapshot: Fine Flavour and Specialty Cocoa
January 8, 2024
So-B-Green (standing for Social, Business & Green) promotes premium West African commodities originating from fair and transparent supply chains. Also operating in Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire, the company entered Liberia in 2019 and saw a strong opportunity for the fine flavour cocoa market. So-B-Green’s CEO, Charles Tellier, provides insight into Liberia’s unique appeal.
In what ways does Liberia present strong potential to supply the fine flavour cocoa market?
Liberia has big potential. It’s very small – it is producing less cocoa than any other West African country and what you cannot have in big quantities is rare and therefore desirable. Côte d’Ivoire is producing 2 million metric tons (Mt) per year. Ghana is producing 800,000. Liberia produces around 10,000 to 15,000 Mt.
Secondly, the landscape is good for cocoa production. It’s very fertile because the soil is healthy and rich. It’s very hot and humid and it rains a lot thanks to the forest cover, making productivity very high despite common bad agricultural practices such as lack of pruning and weeding. You also have some old varieties planted before the 1990s with their own taste and particularities that no one else has. And you have very committed farmers who are proud to produce good cocoa.
These factors mean Liberia has all the components to enter the niche market. Instead of being the biggest, you can be the best, and that comes with better margins. We are looking to promote Liberian cocoa as the best in West Africa.
How is So-B-Green involved in Liberia’s entry to the fine flavour market?
We supported the set up of a fermentation and drying centre in Bong County to help the farmers build on what they already have in terms of landscape, fertility and old genetics and improve the quality of their cocoa. We’ve been working with a consultant to develop a unique “recipe” or protocol for fermentation and drying to give the beans a special taste. Then we sent samples to EU chocolate makers and the feedback was more than positive. Our clients want this cocoa for two reasons: because the quality is very good and because nobody else has this type. We needed that feedback before investing in Liberia. And in January we sent our samples to the Cocoa of Excellence international competition for fine flavour. Through the national committee we ranked first and we are now one of 300 samples competing against countries like Colombia and Venezuela.
We are working with Atlantic Cocoa, an exporter, who buys the beans for us and ships it to our clients. We tell them to buy the beans from the centre where we have trained the farmers on good practices. We are more a guarantor of quality cocoa with a social impact. The farmers are mapped so we know the outlines of their farms and their profile.
What about organic certification – why is it important to have?
Today in the niche market if you’re not organic it’s an obstacle. That’s tricky for Liberia because there’s no auditing body locally, so you need to pay people to come from abroad. That increases the fees while the volumes remain small; you need an economy of scale. But it’s a must to be organic certified. In Europe the organic market is increasing and you have a lot of organic beans. The market is absorbing them which is a good thing for Liberia, because many farmers are already organic by default. That’s another thing that makes Liberia unique: in other countries like Côte d’Ivoire or Ghana, it’s very hard to find organic by default. All the farmers have access to chemicals and inputs.
Atlantic Cocoa is investing in organic certification and we’re managing the programme for the farmers. We have an agronomist on the ground who is training the farmers, implementing documentation and traceability measures to ensure the whole management system is in place. And it’s going to add a premium for farmers, which is good.
How is GROW involved and what’s next?
GROW has not hesitated in supporting us to improve our facility and add more trainings for farmers. We are in line in terms of our philosophy of improving the farmers’ revenues by promoting premium and niche cocoa. And also being business-driven. It’s a really great partnership and I see it as a long term one, not only for cocoa but perhaps other supply chains through intercropping. It is crucial that farmers grow two crops at least to guarantee two different revenue streams and increase their resilience in the face of volatile international and farmgate prices.
About GROW Liberia
GROW is an agribusiness and investment advisory agency that partners with businesses, investors, associations and government agencies to accelerate inclusive economic returns within high-growth industries in Liberia. We promote forest-friendly cocoa production by discouraging deforestation, promoting the rehabilitation of existing farms, and championing the use of organic farming methods. GROW is also providing support to businesses seeking to market Liberian cocoa to international buyers who are willing to pay more for forest-friendly cocoa. In addition, we offer facilitation and guidance to buyers seeking to source high-quality, sustainably-produced Liberian cocoa.
