Papua New Guinea cocoa farmers are receiving Australian support to meet international sustainability standards and secure access to premium overseas markets through a partnership with leading cocoa exporter NGIP-Agmark.
The initiative, launched to coincide with World Chocolate Day, is helping farmers adopt new traceability systems that comply with requirements such as the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), allowing PNG cocoa to remain competitive in high-value export markets.
Supported by the Australian Government, the project has introduced geospatial farm mapping, QR code-tagged cocoa bags and real-time electronic payment systems.
More than 8,000 farming households have already been digitally mapped, with the first shipment of 25 tones of cocoa from 70 mapped farms successfully exported to the European Union using the new traceability system.
NGIP Group Agricultural Production Manager Graham McNally said the project would eventually be expanded across Papua New Guinea.
“Once we have developed the model and proven it works, we will scale it up,” Mr. McNally said.
“Our goal is to expand this capability nationwide. Meeting evolving international requirements is essential for PNG’s cocoa industry and the farming households that depend on it.”
The initiative enables farmers to demonstrate that their cocoa is grown on existing farmland rather than through the clearing of virgin forests, helping them comply with increasingly strict environmental standards in international markets.
East New Britain cocoa farmer Anisa said the new system was already benefiting producers.
“It helps us continue enjoying a premium price for our cocoa,” she said.
“By mapping and registering our farms digitally, we can show that our cocoa is grown on existing farmland and not through clearing virgin forests.”
With global demand increasing for sustainably sourced cocoa, the partnership is expected to strengthen Papua New Guinea’s position in premium export markets while improving rural incomes and supporting long-term growth in the cocoa industry.