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Tilburg, The Netherlands – October 4, 2025 — On Friday, October 3rd, Agriterra and Delicia Limited officially signed an agreement to launch the COCODEP Project, a five-year initiative that will transform the livelihoods of 3,000 smallholder cocoa farmers in Ghana’s Aowin Municipality.
Agriterra’s Jasper Spikker and Nicola Schoeman visited Delicia’s headquarters in Tilburg for the official signing ceremony. During the visit, they toured Delicia’s state-of-the-art factory and witnessed firsthand how the company produces its iconic hagelslag and chocolate-coated products. Inge van Gool-van der Pas and Peter van Veldhoven shared insights into Delicia’s history and its unwavering commitment to improving conditions for cocoa farmers at the source.
This partnership underscores a shared vision between Delicia and Agriterra to make the cocoa value chain more equitable, sustainable, and resilient.
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About the COCODEP Project
The Cocoa Cooperative Development Project (COCODEP), supported by Delicia and implemented by Agriterra, aims to strengthen five cocoa cooperatives in Aowin, Ghana. The project focuses on improving cooperative governance, boosting productivity through Good Agricultural Practices (GAP), promoting financial inclusion, reducing child labour, and linking farmers to premium markets such as Fairtrade and Rainforest Alliance buyers.
Through this initiative, participating cocoa farmers are expected to increase their household income by at least 20% while ensuring that their children remain in school, advancing both economic and social development in rural Ghana.
Shared Sustainability Commitment
Delicia has long been a champion of sustainability in the chocolate industry. The company sources certified cocoa and is dedicated to ensuring that every product contributes to a fairer supply chain. Delicia invests in projects that improve traceability, empower farmers, and protect the environment.
“We are proud to support initiatives that go beyond sourcing sustainable cocoa to actually transforming the lives of farmers,” said Inge van Gool-van der Pas. “Partnering with Agriterra allows us to make a tangible impact at the cooperative level, where change truly begins.”
Agriterra brings over 25 years of experience in strengthening farmer organisations worldwide. Through its peer-to-peer approach, the organisation mobilises experts from cooperatives and agribusinesses to help local farmer groups become more professional, sustainable, and bankable.
“Our partnership with Delicia exemplifies how private sector commitment and cooperative development can work hand-in-hand to achieve long-term sustainability in the cocoa sector,” said Jasper Spikker, Agriterra’s CEO. “Together, we’re building stronger cooperatives that can secure better prices, reduce child labour, and protect the environment.”
A Vision for the Future of Cocoa
The COCODEP Project aligns closely with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly those related to decent work and economic growth (SDG 8), responsible consumption and production (SDG 12), and life on land (SDG 15).
By fostering fair incomes, inclusive governance, and environmental stewardship, Agriterra and Delicia are setting a new standard for responsible cocoa production, creating lasting value from bean to bar.
