Finn Cacao Oy
Finn Cacao Ci is a subsidiary of the Finnish company Finn Cacao Oy.
Finn Cacao Oy established an agricultural cooperative in Côte d’Ivoire under the name Société Nouvelle Coopérative Agricole Finn Cacao Côte d’Ivoire, abbreviated as Finn Cacao Ci. Its headquarters are located in Bangolo. The cooperative has 224 members and is managed by a board of directors. 32% of the members are women, primarily involved in subsistence farming and fish farming. The cooperative is registered with the Coffee and Cocoa Council and has a specific code for buying and selling cocoa beans, cocoa derivate (for example 10-12% Alkalized Light Brown Cocoa Powder and other products of cocoa), and coffee. It primarily works at the farm level, providing economic, technical, and social support to its members.
Production and Technical Support Activities
GUARANTEE THE QUALITY AND PRODUCTIVITY OF THE 224 MEMBERS.
- Supply of Agricultural Inputs (Pre-Campaign): In line with its description, Finn Cacao Ci plays a crucial upstream role. Concrete example: Before the 2025 campaign, the cooperative organizes a group order of specific fertilizers for cocoa and coffee, distributes them to its producers at a reduced cost, and offers deferred payment after the harvest to avoid debt.
- Training in Good Practices: The cooperative can organize training sessions for its members. Concrete example: In partnership with the Conseil du Café-Cacao (Coffee and Cocoa Council), Finn Cacao Ci trains its 152 male producers in pruning techniques and the rehabilitation of old cocoa trees to increase yields.
- Support for Women’s Food Crops: Since 32% of the members (approximately 72 women) are active in food crop farming, the cooperative diversifies its support. Concrete example: Finn Cacao Ci provides improved maize or rice seeds to its female members, recognizing that this production contributes to household food security and can even generate additional income.
Sustainable Management and Inclusion
ENSURE THE LONG-TERM VIABILITY OF THE ACTIVITY AND ENHANCE THE ROLE OF WOMEN.
- Traceability and Registration: Thanks to its approval and specific code from the Conseil du Café-Cacao, Finn Cacao Ci acts as the interface between the plantation and the international market. Being registered with the Conseil du Café-Cacao entails certain obligations. Concrete example: Finn Cacao Ci uses its purchasing code to geolocate the plots of its 224 members in order to certify that the cocoa and coffee sold do not come from protected forest areas, thus complying with regulations. The cooperative buys cocoa beans and coffee cherries from its members. The headquarters in Bangolo serves as a central point for weighing and quality control. Unlike a standard cooperative, Finn Cacao Ci can also negotiate processed or derived products, increasing added value for the members.
- Support for Women’s Activities (Fish Farming): As women are active in fish farming, the cooperative expands its scope of action. Concrete example: Finn Cacao Ci invests part of its profits to finance the purchase of galvanized steel cylindrical tanks for off-ground fish farming, as well as fingerlings and feed for women’s groups, creating a new source of protein and income for families.
- Agroforestry: To protect the main crops. Concrete example: The cooperative encourages its members to plant fruit trees (orange, avocado) or forest trees on their coffee and cocoa plots, providing shade and an additional source of income (sale of fruit).
Marketing and Market Access.
SELL AT THE BEST PRICE THANKS TO THE PURCHASING CODE.
- Group Collection and Sale: Thanks to its specific code, Finn Cacao Ci can market directly. Concrete example: At harvest time, the cooperative centralizes the cocoa and coffee production and negotiates directly with buyers or exporters based in San-Pédro or Abidjan to obtain a price higher than that offered by local intermediaries (« pisteurs »).
- Quality Premiums: By training its members, the quality improves. Concrete example: If Finn Cacao Ci delivers well-fermented and well-dried cocoa, the buyer pays a quality premium. This premium is redistributed to the producers concerned or placed in a common fund.
Social Responsibility and Community Life
Improve living conditions around Bangolo.
- Support for Education (Purchase of Textbooks): This is the flagship example of Finn Cacao Ci. Concrete example: Each year, at the start of the school year, the cooperative uses part of its surplus (profit) to identify the children of the 224 members who need support and provide them with complete school kits (textbooks, notebooks, pens) as described.
- Fight Against Child Labor: By distributing school textbooks, the cooperative actively encourages school attendance. Concrete example: Finn Cacao Ci conducts awareness campaigns among its members to explain that children should be in school and not on plantations, using the purchase of textbooks as a lever for parental commitment.
- Improvement of Local Infrastructure: With 224 families, the cooperative carries significant social weight. Concrete example: The cooperative could finance the repair of a water pump in the village of Bangolo to facilitate access to drinking water for women and children.
