In July 2021, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) banded together with Catholic Relief Services (CRS) and other companies in the private sector including the Fine Chocolate Industry Association (FCIA), Madecasse-Beyond Good Chocolate (M-BG), Guittard Chocolate, Akesson Organics and the Heirloom Cacao Preservation Fund (HCP), with goals to improve local incomes and livelihoods, raise global awareness about Madagascar’s high quality heirloom chocolate, and have a positive environmental impact.
The public-private partnership, called the “TSIRO Alliance” will use $5.8 million over the next five years to plant more than 1.5 million trees in different parts of Madagascar. The goal is to help thousands of farmers in 30 different communities. At this point they’ve planted over 10,000 trees in specific north and southeast regions.
Grimaud, a farmer supported by the TSIRO project, tells his story as a father of five, supporting his family through a handful of products that earn him a nominal wage. He said the new trees allow farmers to further diversify their crops and production capacity.
Agathe Sector, USAID's Sustainable Environment and Economic Development Office Director in Madagascar said that long term she hopes the project within this partnership can reverse some of the deforestation that has taken place in each region as people desperate for money cut down trees for a quick profit. She especially hopes that the project will help connect the Ranomafana National Park – located near Manakara – to some of the now fragmented forests nearby.
To learn more about the TSIRO Alliance and the partners involved, visit makeminefine.com
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Photo credit: Catholic Relief Services