In January, a group of Young Fair Trade Advocates (YFTAs) travelled to Ghana alongside an FTAO delegation to witness first-hand the impact of climate change in cooperative farming and the ways cocoa farmers are overcoming challenges through community engagement. The delegation of YFTAs conducted a series of interviews with farmers and cooperative members, from Accra to the Eastern, Ahafo and Ashanti regions, they saw how cooperatives create tangible benefits for their members and surrounding communities. 

To mark World Fair Trade Day 2025, the YFTAs launched the video series Seeds of Resilience: How cocoa farmers in Ghana are leading the way in climate change mitigation and adaptation. The series amplifies the voices of cocoa farmers showcasing how they are adapting their farming practices and developing innovative solutions to address the growing impacts of climate change. 

With Europe importing 58% of the world's cocoa beans, the visit was particularly insightful, especially as farmers prepare for the new EU Deforestation Regulation that will significantly impact them. It became clear that more support, resources for agroforestry and community development are essential to help farmers adapt and sustain their businesses and livelihoods while playing a vital role in protecting the environment and tackling deforestation.

Watch the full series here.

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About the YFTAs:

The YFTAs are a diverse group of young individuals (18-30) who are calling for a global, fair, and ecological transition. With the ambition to reform the current socioeconomic system which endangers the lives of billions of people, we have spent the last two years meeting with politicians, conducting dialogues with the Global South, and preparing policy papers. The programme was initiated in 2021 by the Fair Trade Advocacy Office.