Industry participants in the cocoa sector have reaffirmed their commitment to promoting constructive changes in the sector. Speaking at the recent International Cocoa and Chocolate Forum (ICCF), the participants characterized the gathering as a catalyst for change rather than merely a forum.
The new EU policy, its impact on cocoa-producing countries, and the direction for the global cocoa trade and industry that promotes transformation with regard to the resilience of cocoa farmers” were the forum’s main focus.
The conference, which was organized by the International Cocoa Diplomacy (ICD), provided a forum for intellectual discussion on the urgent issues facing the cocoa sector and opened the door to a more sustainable future.
Dr. Oluseye Oludoye’s lecture on the subject of “Good Agricultural Practices for Sustainable and Quality Cocoa Production” was noteworthy because it clarified important procedures for the production of cocoa that is both high-quality and sustainable.
Additional speakers who offered their knowledge on various subjects were Soji Sanyaolu, Patrick Adebola, Chantal Coady, OBE, Lynn Lockwood, Carrie Pemberton Ford, Ph.D., Lorna Marah, Lisette Davis, Gbolahan Peter Macjob, and Jules Achard.
The discussion at the forum covered a number of important topics, such as closing the global resource gap, using technology and artificial intelligence to encourage younger farmers, the role of media in bridging the divide between regions that produce and consume, and how to handle social issues like child labor, forced labor, human trafficking, and slavery.
The stakeholders went so far as to investigate the efficacy and positive or negative impact of sustainability labels, providing a critical evaluation of investment potential in the global cocoa sector.
The main focus of the event was on investing rather than only social responsibility to have a good social impact, and on rethinking the roles of important players throughout the chocolate value chain. Whether or not value addition could be achieved in cocoa-producing regions was a key question that needed to be answered.