Mars has been named one of the top 12 finalists for the US Secretary of State’s 2013 Award for Corporate Excellence (ACE) for its cocoa sustainability and economic development work in Indonesia.
“Mars is committed to making a real difference in the lives of people worldwide, and we are honoured to be a finalist for this prestigious award,” said Frank Mars, president of Mars Symbioscience and Mars Incorporated board member. “It has been a privilege to work first hand in Indonesia these past 10 years alongside other Mars Associates and with the local communities. I firmly believe the environmental and community work Mars is doing in Indonesia is a clear example of putting our principles into action to mutually benefit the Indonesian people, the planet and in turn our business interests in the country.”
Mars was nominated by Embassy Jakarta, based on the company’s contribution to Indonesian green growth and sustainable livelihoods and its commitment to practicing and promoting good corporate citizenship. Mars has been producing cocoa powder and cocoa butter in Indonesia, the world’s third largest supplier of cocoa, since 1996 and has marketed its confectionery and petfood products in Indonesia since the 1980s. It now directly employs 500 Indonesians and works with about 2,000 smallholder cocoa farmers.
Specifically, Mars is being recognised for introducing technology and skills to thousands of small farmers to increase their cocoa yields and income.
Mars says that it focuses on building an innovative, market-driven, sustainable foundation upon which thousands of small farmers have improved their productivity and reduced the negative environmental impact of traditional farming methods. Mars is continuing to develop a significant network of farm services businesses to supply critical farm inputs, including the best quality clonal seedlings, compost and technical support services to create a more sustainable future for cocoa farmers. This model relies on five Mars “Cocoa Development Centers” (CDCs) across Indonesia that train thousands of cocoa farmers and partner organisation trainers, highlight new methods and technologies in demonstration farms, and teach entrepreneurial farmers to be “Cocoa Doctors.” The Cocoa Doctors then apply what they’ve learned through managing a network of 80 “Cocoa Village Centers” (CVCs), which currently are providing extension services to 12,000 local farmers.
