Implementation and effectiveness of corporate-driven smallholder cocoa certification schemes in Indonesia
Abstract Voluntary sustainability standards (VSS) are a popular instrument in corporate social responsibility strategies of food processing and distribution companies. Yet, concerns emerge about companies capitalizing on VSS as a reputation-building and product-differentiation tool without investing...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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SpringerOpen
2025-07-01
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| Series: | Agricultural and Food Economics |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s40100-025-00375-5 |
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| author | Janne Bemelmans Miet Maertens |
| author_facet | Janne Bemelmans Miet Maertens |
| author_sort | Janne Bemelmans |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Voluntary sustainability standards (VSS) are a popular instrument in corporate social responsibility strategies of food processing and distribution companies. Yet, concerns emerge about companies capitalizing on VSS as a reputation-building and product-differentiation tool without investing in strong sustainability commitments on the ground. This article explores how the heterogeneity in interventions across three corporate-driven Rainforest Alliance cocoa certification schemes in South Sulawesi, Indonesia, shapes farm-level socioeconomic impacts. We conceptualize the implementation of VSS interventions along three mechanisms—i.e., control, market-based incentives, and capacity-building interventions—and into measurable farm-level indicators. We use primary survey data from 458 smallholder producers and a propensity score matching approach to estimate farm-level effects of certification. Results reveal large differences in farm-level interventions across certification schemes and positive effects on farm production and producer income in those schemes with the strongest interventions. Results point to the complementarity of control, market-based incentives, and capacity-building interventions in delivering beneficial farm-level effects. We highlight the role of processing and distribution companies, as operators of certification schemes, in effectively implementing VSS to deliver improved sustainability outcomes. Improved monitoring and enforcement of VSS implementation is needed to improve accountability in the transition toward sustainable food systems. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-eec4a8e45bb0455dabc182075397d985 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2193-7532 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | SpringerOpen |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Agricultural and Food Economics |
| spelling | doaj-art-eec4a8e45bb0455dabc182075397d9852025-08-20T03:45:27ZengSpringerOpenAgricultural and Food Economics2193-75322025-07-0113113810.1186/s40100-025-00375-5Implementation and effectiveness of corporate-driven smallholder cocoa certification schemes in IndonesiaJanne Bemelmans0Miet Maertens1Division of Bioeconomics, Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, KU LeuvenDivision of Bioeconomics, Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, KU LeuvenAbstract Voluntary sustainability standards (VSS) are a popular instrument in corporate social responsibility strategies of food processing and distribution companies. Yet, concerns emerge about companies capitalizing on VSS as a reputation-building and product-differentiation tool without investing in strong sustainability commitments on the ground. This article explores how the heterogeneity in interventions across three corporate-driven Rainforest Alliance cocoa certification schemes in South Sulawesi, Indonesia, shapes farm-level socioeconomic impacts. We conceptualize the implementation of VSS interventions along three mechanisms—i.e., control, market-based incentives, and capacity-building interventions—and into measurable farm-level indicators. We use primary survey data from 458 smallholder producers and a propensity score matching approach to estimate farm-level effects of certification. Results reveal large differences in farm-level interventions across certification schemes and positive effects on farm production and producer income in those schemes with the strongest interventions. Results point to the complementarity of control, market-based incentives, and capacity-building interventions in delivering beneficial farm-level effects. We highlight the role of processing and distribution companies, as operators of certification schemes, in effectively implementing VSS to deliver improved sustainability outcomes. Improved monitoring and enforcement of VSS implementation is needed to improve accountability in the transition toward sustainable food systems.https://doi.org/10.1186/s40100-025-00375-5CertificationRainforest AllianceFarm-level interventionsPropensity score matchingCocoaIndonesia |
| spellingShingle | Janne Bemelmans Miet Maertens Implementation and effectiveness of corporate-driven smallholder cocoa certification schemes in Indonesia Agricultural and Food Economics Certification Rainforest Alliance Farm-level interventions Propensity score matching Cocoa Indonesia |
| title | Implementation and effectiveness of corporate-driven smallholder cocoa certification schemes in Indonesia |
| title_full | Implementation and effectiveness of corporate-driven smallholder cocoa certification schemes in Indonesia |
| title_fullStr | Implementation and effectiveness of corporate-driven smallholder cocoa certification schemes in Indonesia |
| title_full_unstemmed | Implementation and effectiveness of corporate-driven smallholder cocoa certification schemes in Indonesia |
| title_short | Implementation and effectiveness of corporate-driven smallholder cocoa certification schemes in Indonesia |
| title_sort | implementation and effectiveness of corporate driven smallholder cocoa certification schemes in indonesia |
| topic | Certification Rainforest Alliance Farm-level interventions Propensity score matching Cocoa Indonesia |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s40100-025-00375-5 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT jannebemelmans implementationandeffectivenessofcorporatedrivensmallholdercocoacertificationschemesinindonesia AT mietmaertens implementationandeffectivenessofcorporatedrivensmallholdercocoacertificationschemesinindonesia |