Seven Fort Valley State University agricultural science students visited West Africa in November 2022 to learn about cocoa and shea butter production.
The group consisted of six animal science majors and an agricultural economics major. The students embarked on an 11-day journey to Ghana and the Ivory Coast (Côte d’Ivoire) with Dr. Brou Kouakou, associate dean for research, and Dr. Mohammed Ibrahim, associate dean for academics. Both associate deans are with the university’s College of Agriculture, Family Sciences and Technology. Latasha Ford, research communications manager, document the students’ experiences.
During their international exploration, the undergraduates visited a cocoa farm in Adzopé, Côte d’Ivoire and learned about the cocoa production process by CAYAT (Coopérative Agricole de Yakassé-Attobrou).
Casey Hunter, an animal science major, immersing himself in the process.
“This experience and the knowledge I’ve gained have been pivotal for me in wanting to become a change agent within the agricultural sector,” he said.
The group also visited the Cargill plant, laboratory and shipping facility in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire. Côte d’Ivoire produces about 43 percent of the world’s cocoa — all from family farms. Cargill is one of the largest family-owned companies in the world.
“We saw the manufacturing, scientific and business logistics aspects that people wouldn’t think about when making chocolate,” Miniya Miller, an agricultural economics major, said of the Cargill tour.
The group also visited a local artisan chocolate maker’s shop.
The latter part of the trip to Tamale, Ghana, provided the students with a firsthand look at how shea butter is made, the history of the Saakpuli Slave Market and Elmina Castle, and traditional dances.
The team is grateful to the Cargill company and the West Africa group that hosted the Côte d’Ivoire trip. The Center of Excellence for Global Food Security and Defense, funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture, supported this international learning experience.
