ZURICH, SWITZERLAND — Barry Callebaut has joined the Utz Certified code of conduct program for cocoa. Launched earlier this year, the program sets out economic, environmental and social criteria and requires farmer training to bring producers to the required level.

"By participating in the steering group for the Utz Certified cocoa program, we aim to make a meaningful contribution to the collective efforts under way to help farmers in some of the poorest countries in the world," said Steven Retzlaff, president of Global Sourcing & Cocoa for Zurich-based Barry Callebaut. "Our shared aim is to help farmers to grow cocoa in a manner that is sustainable and that safeguards the environment — while at the same time enabling farmers to increase their incomes and improve their livelihoods."