All aboard to Amsterdam for the WCF Partnership Meeting and Chocoa

This week, Amsterdam is being somewhat taken over by two major cocoa events, the World Cocoa Foundation Partnership Meeting, and Chocoa, which will both shine a light on some of the sector’s most pressing issues.

From upcoming, delayed pivotal legislation in the form of EUDR and corporate due diligence legislation, to the continuing issues of child labour, crop disease and how to empower communities amid what is proving a significant ongoing crisis for the industry.

Confectionery Production is on hand during the week to offer key coverage of the event, so if you’ve any news during the two shows, please do get in touch with me directly at [email protected]   – in addition catch our exclusive video with Jack Steijn, co-founder of Chocoa, for anyone considering venturing out here to Amsterdam for the event.

The highly volatile situation in West Africa for cocoa has been underlined by drastically falling crop prices, which has in turn placed significant strain on farmers in core producing nations of Ghana and Ivory Coast, with the former country in particular being hit with delayed payment to farmers, which was last week the subject of emerging government meetings to respond – the outcome – Cocobod may have been ordered to start ensuring agricultural workers are paid what they are owed. But new farm gate prices are over 25% less for farmers, which is threatening to further worsen the ongoing spiral of major tests for the sector.

So what can be done to repair the situation? Hopefully, at least some answers will be in the pipeline this week, as a stellar cast of experienced speakers offers its views on all things connected with the cocoa world. Tickets are still available for both events, with more information via worldcocoafoundation.org and chocoa.nl

Neill Barston, editor, Confectionery Production magazine

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