The CHOCOLATE DREAM
The Chocolate Dream:
Creating Shared Value at Origin
The Chocolate Dream is a collaborative model of social innovation, in which Luker Chocolate seeks to transform the chocolate value chain from origin. This builds sustainable well-being amongst the communities where Luker Chocolate sources its cocoas.
The Chocolate Dream works in three main objectives
1. Improve farmer income by increasing farm productivity and quality, strengthening the associations and promoting income diversification initiatives.
2. Strengthen the social fabric of local communities by supporting education, enforcing human rights’ adoption and promoting entrepreneurship and cultural activities.
3. Maintain environmental balance in cocoa growing communities by protecting biodiversity, water, forests and soils and reducing our carbon footprint.
OUR IMPACT 2021
+ 2,500
Families possitively impacted by The Chocolate Dream
100%
Compensated emissions
+ 700
Rural jobs created by our farms
Our dream works to contribute to the following sustainable development goals (SDG)
Download our 2018-2019 Sustainability report here
Our Sourcing Model
We are present throughout the entire cocoa value chain guaranteeing, traceability and consistency. As a result, we can:
- Benefit 2500 farmers and their communities.
- Create 700 + jobs between its farms and manufacturing plant.
- + 10% of the average price paid reinvested in sustainability programs for farmers and communities.
- Guarantee purchase in the regions where our anchor model is implemented.
- Traceability to the farm.
- Planted under agroforestry systems.
- Sustainable farming practices.
- Direct model to benefit surrounding communities.
- Traceability to cocoa farmers associations.
- Strengthening of associations through training in good agricultural practices.
- +5% premiums for Fino de Aroma high-quality cocoa beans.
- Traceability to the region.
- Long-term relationship based on buyer’s knowledge of local producers and the regions.
- They provide advanced payments and other services for farmers.
Beyond Sustainability: Frequently Asked Questions
What is The Chocolate Dream?
The Chocolate Dream is Luker’s collaborative sustainability platform, which brings together different actors of the chocolate value chain including USAID, Luker clients, NGO’s, local government, among others, to build sustainable well-being in rural communities in Colombia.
a. The Chocolate Dream so far has benefitted more than 2500 families in rural communities in Colombia with projects in education, entrepreneurship, human rights enforcement, environmental protection, and farmer productivity among others.
b. In the past 3 years The Chocolate Dream has invested more than 5 million USD in sustainability projects from which 30% has been invested directly by Luker and the Luker Foundation.
c. Currently The Chocolate Dream has active projects in 6 regions in Colombia: Urabá, Caldas, Huila, Casanare, Tumaco and Bogotá.
Does Luker have its own farms?
Luker has 3 productive farms in Colombia (located in Urabá, Huila and Casanare), which serve as anchors to The Chocolate Dream. These farms create more than 700 quality jobs in the region and serve as promoters of environmental sustainability by championing the protection of the surrounding ecosystem and implementing cocoa plantations in agroforestry systems. Additionally, in 1962 Luker founded its own research and training farm in Caldas “Granja Luker”, where it offers training to farmers from around the country.
How does Luker define the price paid to farmers for their cocoa?
In the past 3 years Luker has paid, locally, in average 95% of the NY exchange FOB price for cocoa. Through a shorter value chain, where we are directly responsible for purchasing at origin, we strive to maximize the percentage of the international price of cocoa, usually paid at export, that is transferred to farmers and farmer associations locally.
Are you 100% carbon neutral? What measures have you taken to reduce your carbon footprint?
In September 2021, Luker signed its commitment with Race to Zero, a global UN campaign committed to achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. Our goal is to be net-zero in carbon emissions by 2030.
As of 2021, Luker Chocolate is carbon neutral across all owned operations, including its farms. As part of these efforts, Luker achieved a reduction of 52% in refrigerants CO2 emissions from 2020 to 2021, due to modifications made to chocolate production equipment and compensated 100% of its outstanding emissions through carbon bonds.
The next stage is to become carbon neutral with external suppliers by the end of 2022 and achieve full compensation through certified carbon bonds resulting from it own farms carbon surplus.
How do you prevent deforestation?
As members of the Cocoa Forests and Peace initiative, we are committed to prevent deforestation in our value chain. In our own farms, we have implemented agroforestry systems to ensure cocoa serves as a reforestation crop and drives the protection of biodiversity. Additionally, to ensure zero deforestation with small producers, we work closely with them and their communities to promote environmental awareness and good agricultural practices through education and professionalization programs for farmers. Also, before delivering plant material to small farmers, our agronomists on the field check that this plant material will not be used in forest areas.