We, citizens, young people, civil society organizations and entrepreneurs, unite in this manifesto to stand up for economic justice in the cocoa industry. We refuse to accept that millions of farmers remain poor while we enjoy chocolate.
We advocate for a new economic standard based on shared ownership and revenue sharing: Farmers must not only supply, but also share in the profit of chocolate and other end products.
The Equal Trade Model offers a structural alternative to voluntary certification systems. It requires companies to recognize producers as economic partners, not as cheap suppliers.
With this petition we call on the House of Representatives to apply the Equal Trade Model to the value chain of cocoa trade with Ghana.
Only through redistribution of the enormous revenues in the cocoa industry is a dignified future possible for Ghana’s cocoa farmers and their families.
The Equal Trade Model guarantees that equal distribution. Therefore support this petition!
You will be redirected to petities.nl. Don’t forget to confirm your voice in your email!
Revenue distribution model to guarantee equal wealth distribution along the value chain.
Abolition of the Buyer-Supplier Relationship: Through joint ownership and long-term partnerships, the ETC can restructure trade relationships to reduce dependence on retailers and give producers more financial stability and decision-making power. Workers have more influence in the value chain, such as in setting demands/prices. Farmers and states earn a sustainable income and buyers receive high-quality and ethically responsible products. The Equal Trade Model thereby breaks the long-standing cycle of exploitation of farmers in favor of retailers.
Revenue distribution: A minimum threshold for income share is established, whereby a significant percentage of the value of the end product flows back to the producers. This shift guarantees economic sustainability. To strengthen equality and combat fraud, ETA integrates blockchain technology, creating a transparent, fraud-free system. The result? A supply chain where prosperity flows more equally — not only to the West, but worldwide.
Structural inequality is the result of an unjust economic system. This is the underlying cause of poverty on the African continent, with consequences felt both regionally and globally:
Without structural trade justice, the situation in Africa will continue to repeat itself, regardless of how much development aid is provided. Social unrest among young people is growing, and the consequences of failing to achieve economic justice are unforeseeable – neither for Africa nor for Europe.
We call on:
And join the movement for structural change in world trade.
ETA replaces the traditional supply chain model by making producers co-owners, giving them an equal, guaranteed share of the final price. ETA challenges the structural inequalities that other models have been unable to overcome. Unlike conventional systems where profits are accumulated by intermediaries and retailers, ETA’s revenue-sharing approach redistributes value across the chain, empowering producers to benefit from every stage — not only from raw material sales, but from the value-added stages of production and commercialization.
A minimum threshold of revenue share is established, guaranteeing that a significant percentage of the final product’s value is returned to the producers. This shift ensures that economic sustainability. To reinforce equality and fight fraud, ETA integrates blockchain technology, creating a transparent, tamper-proof system. The result? A supply chain where wealth flows more equally — not just to the West, but across the globe.
Through joint ownership and long-term partnerships, ETC could restructure trade relationships to reduce dependency on retailers and give producers greater financial stability and decision-making power. Laborers have more to say in the value chain, like in setting demands/prices. Farmers and states earn a sustainable income and buyers get quality and ethically sourced products. Hereby breaks the Equal Trade Model the long-standing cycle of farmer exploitation for the benefit of retailers.
