Accra: With global agriculture contributing to 80 percent of tropical deforestation and climate change potentially slashing global agricultural production by up to 35 percent by 2050, Jean Louis Mva Ze is acutely aware of the challenges ahead. "Climate change is not imaginary, it's real," remarked the cocoa farmer and cooperative president from Cameroon. "We all need to adapt, protect the forest, focus on the land we already have, and apply good practices. That's how we'll increase yields, attract partners, and secure our future."
According to Ghana Web, Jean Louis' narrative is one of many shared in the Rainforest Alliance's 2025 Annual Report, "Regeneration Takes Root," which chronicles a year marked by substantial investments in farmer livelihoods, ecosystem restoration, and market transformation. These efforts have yielded significant outcomes from the highlands of Kenya to the cocoa farms of Ghana and the coffee plantations of Nicaragua.
The organization's 2025 achievements, spanning 80 landscape and community programs and certification work in 64 countries, cover five interconnected impact areas: ecosystems, biodiversity, livelihoods, climate resilience, and human rights. The Rainforest Alliance helped avoid or sequester 5.5 million metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions, supported the protection and restoration of 11.9 million hectares of ecosystems, and informed over 10.8 million farmers and workers about their rights and responsibilities.
Through sustainability premiums and higher yields, the organization contributed to an additional US$2.22 billion in farm income, including US$100 million in direct sustainability premiums paid to farmers. Santiago Gowland, CEO of the Rainforest Alliance, emphasized the importance of supporting farmers and moving companies beyond compliance toward regenerative investments.
A pivotal development in 2025 was the introduction of the Rainforest Alliance Regenerative Agriculture Standard-a science-based, field-tested framework comprising 119 requirements covering soil health, water, biodiversity, crop resilience, and social impacts. It provides a specialized path for farmers and companies to enhance their commitment to regenerative practices and actively restore the land.
Communities play a crucial role in these efforts. In Cameroon's Western Highlands, the COBALAM project led by the Rainforest Alliance, in collaboration with local communities, established eight community nurseries, planted nearly 80,000 trees, and restored over 3,000 hectares of degraded land. In C´te d'Ivoire, the Hershey Income Accelerator Program (HIAP) supports cocoa farmers in building more productive and resilient farms, with promising early results.
Meanwhile, in Ghana, the Rainforest Alliance EU LEAN project facilitated the planting of 1.3 million trees and brought over 181,000 hectares under sustainable management through collaboration with farmers, local government, and companies. The Rainforest Alliance Certified seal now appears on 66,000 products across 172 countries, assuring consumers that their purchases support thriving landscapes and communities.
Despite the progress, the Rainforest Alliance urges companies, governments, and investors to deepen their commitment to regenerative agriculture. Nicholas Jengre, Country Director of Rainforest Alliance Ghana, noted that protecting nature is essential, but the future also hinges on the ability to regenerate it, highlighting the positive changes observed across Ghana.