Bávaro, The Dominican Republic, 27 May 2016 —About 1,300 participants from 64 cocoa exporting and importing countries in late May converged on the Dominican Republic resort town of Bávaro for the largest cocoa and chocolate meeting ever held in Latin America.
At the kind invitation of the Government of the Dominican Republic, the ICCO’s Third World Cocoa Conference brought together farmers, cocoa processors, chocolate manufacturers, NGOs and donor agencies, government representatives and supporting industry people for discussions of all of the most important issues affecting the world’s cocoa sector, as well as networking and social events showing off Dominican culture.
The participants were joined by a number of distinguished guests, including H.E. the Minister of Agriculture of the Dominican Republic, Mr. Ángel Estévez Bourdierd, H.E. the Minister of Commerce of Côte d’Ivoire, Mr. Jean-Louis Billon, H.E. the Minister of Agriculture and Irrigation of Peru, Mr. Juan Manuel Benites Ramos, H.E. the Minister of Trade and Consumption of Madagascar, Mr Armand Tafazy, H.E. the Minister of Agriculture of Venezuela, Mr. Wilmar Castro Soteldo, and H.E. the Vice Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Aquaculture of Ecuador, Mr. Luis K Valverde. Also joining the proceedings, representing German Agriculture Minister H.E. Mr. Christian Schmidt, was the Head of the International Trade Policy Division of the German Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture, Mrs. Cornelia Berns.
The subjects discussed at the Conference ranged from the latest production practices for cocoa to the current situation in the world’s chocolate market, and included in-depth coverage of developments aimed at creating a sustainable cocoa sector for all stakeholders. About 140 speakers brought their expertise from every part of the world and every field of cocoa. (You can download most of the presentations from the Conference below).
The bi-annual Conference introduced a number of new features for its third edition, including a successful Cocoa Producers’ Forum, which brought together close to 200 farmers from origins all over the globe; a well attended seminar on understanding and using the cocoa futures market from an established expert in the field; a lively all-female evening launching the Women in Cocoa and Chocolate (WINCC) network; and a packed Fine and Flavour Cocoa Forum highlighting the best differentiated cocoas and the world’s finest chocolate products.
A Gala Dinner for the participants also included presentations of the ICCO awards to deserving individuals and organizations for their outstanding contributions in four different areas of the cocoa sector. The winners were Dr. Martin Gilmour of Mars Global Chocolate, recognized for his work promoting cocoa research; the NGO Solidaridadfor raising awareness of the role of women in the cocoa and chocolate sector; well known fine cocoa expert Mr. Edward Seguine for his tireless work dedicated to promoting Fine and Flavour Cocoa; and Dominican Republic cooperative CONACADOfor its successful and world renowned support of its member farmers. The ICCO also gave special thanks and presented souvenir gifts to its Dominican Republic organizing partners, the Comisión Nacional del Cacao.
The Conference concluded with the presentation and adoption of the Bávaro Cocoa Declaration, a document reviewing progress on the ICCO’s Global Cocoa Agenda, which outlines ambitious plans for the development of the cocoa sector during the next two years up to the 2018 edition of the Conference.
At the closing session of the Bávaro Conference, ICCO Executive Director Dr. Jean-Marc Anga announced that the next World Cocoa Conference would take place in March 2018 in Berlin, by kind invitation of the Federal Government of Germany.
PROGRAMME OF THE WORLD COCOA CONFERENCE BAVARO, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC 2016
22–25 May 2016, Barcelo Bavaro Convention Center, Bavaro, Dominican Republic
To download available presentations, click on the highlighted presenter names below
SUNDAY 22 May 2016
8:00 Registration open
Cocoa Producers’ Forum
This event was organized by the ICCO prior to the opening of the World Cocoa Conference to encourage consultation and experience sharing as well as facilitate harmonization of positions of cocoa producers from all regions. It was a free-of-charge event restricted to farmers participating at the World Cocoa Conference.
Moderator: Mr. Aly Toure, Permanent Representative of Côte d’Ivoire to International Commodity Bodies & Spokesman for Cocoa Exporting Countries at the ICCO
09:00 Opening and Welcome remarks
Welcome address by Dr Jean-Marc Anga, Executive Director, International Cocoa Organization (ICCO)
Opening remarks by Mr Aly Toure, Permanent Representative of Côte d’Ivoire to International Commodity Bodies; and Spokesman for Cocoa Exporting Member Countries of the ICCO
Opening remarks by Mr. Isidoro de la Rosa, President, CONACADO, Dominican Republic
09:30 Panel 1: Progress and future of cocoa growing: regional experiences
Panel Members:
- Mr. Konan Toussaint NGuessan, President, The World cocoa Producers Organization, Côte d’Ivoire
- Dr. Haya Ramba, Director of Biology Division, Malaysia Cocoa Board, Malaysia
- Mr. Abel Fernandez, Commercial Manager, Grupo Conacado, The Dominican Republic
- Ing. Freddy Benito Cabello Luna, President, Cooperative UNOCACE, Ecuador
12:00 Lunch break
14:00 Panel 2: Strengthening the voice of cocoa farmers, on the national and global stages
Panel Members:
- Mr. Abraham Adusei, Cocoa Farmer, Ghana
- Mr. Sayina Riman, President, Cocoa Association of Nigeria (CAN), Nigeria
- Mr. Rafael Gonzalez, President, APROCACI, The Dominican Republic
- Mr. Luis Alberto Mendoza Aguilar, President, APP Cacao, Peru
- Mrs Maria Woo, Vice President, CACAONICA, Nicaragua
- Mrs Solange N’Guessan Kouamé, Union of Agricultural Cooperative of San Pedro, Côte d’Ivoire
Panel discussions and Q&A session
16:00 Conclusions and recommendations
16:30 End of day’s session
- Dr. José-Antonio Martinez Rojas, Member, Comisión Nacional del Cacao, Dominican Republic
- Dr. Jean-Marc Anga, Executive Director, ICCO
18.00 Exhibition and Registration Desk closes
MONDAY, 23 May 2016
PLENARY SESSIONS
08:00 Registration open
Official Opening Ceremony and Welcome Speeches
09:30 Welcoming Remarks
- Welcome Address on behalf of the host Government by H.E. Dr. Federico Alberto Cuello Camilo, Ambassador of the Dominican Republic to the United Kingdom
- Welcome Address by Dr. Jean-Marc Anga, Executive Director, International Cocoa Organization (ICCO)
- Address by Mrs. Cornelia Berns, Head of Division International Trade Policy, Federal Ministry for Food and Agriculture, Germany, on behalf of H.E. Mr. Christian Schmidt, the Federal Minister of Food and Agriculture, Germany
- Address by H.E. Mr. Luis K Valverde, Vice Minister of Agriculture, Livestock and Aquaculture, Ecuador
- Address by HE Mr. Jean-Louis Billon, Minister of Commerce, Côte d’Ivoire
- Address by H.E. Ing. Agró. Ángel Estévez Bourdierd, Minister of Agriculture, The Dominican Republic
11:00 Keynote Presentation by Dr. Jean-Marc Anga, Executive Director, International Cocoa Organization (ICCO)
11:30 Press Conference / photo opportunity
12:00 Lunch
Road to Sustainability: Implementation of the Global Cocoa Agenda
14:00 Address by Mr. Héctor José Rizek, Director, Comisión Nacional del Cacao, the Dominican Republic
Presentation by Mr. Vladimir Hernández del Orbe, Exports Supply Manager, CEI-RD, the Dominican Republic
14:30 Road to Sustainability: Progress by Cocoa Producing Countries on their National Cocoa Strategies (panel 1)
Moderator: Mr. Alex Bruijnis, Senior Policy Advisor, Ministry of Economic Affairs, The Netherlands – EU Chair of the Commodities Working Party – Chairman, International Cocoa Council (ICCO)
Addresses by Dr. José-Antonio Martínez Rojas, Member, Comisión Nacional del Cacao and by Mr. Rafael Yonny Molina Soto, Program Manager, Comisión Nacional del Cacao, the Dominican Republic
Presentation by Mr. Yusuf Daya, Senior Manager, Projects and Export Development Finance, Afreximbank
Panellists:
- H.E. Mr. Luis K Valverde, Vice Minister of Agriculture, Livestock and Aquaculture, Ecuador
- Mrs. Massandjé Touré-Litsé, Director General, Conseil Café Cacao, Côte d’Ivoire
- Dr. Francis Baah, Executive Director, Cocoa Health and Extension Division, Ghana Cocoa Board, Ghana
- Mr. Miguel Obando, Deputy Secretary, Nicaraguan Institute for Agricultural and Livestock Technology (INTA), Nicaragua
15:45 Cocoa Break
16:00 Road to Sustainability: Experience from cocoa farmers (panel 2)
Moderator: Ms. Cathy Pieters, Director, Cocoa Life Program, Mondelēz International
Keynote presentation by Mr. Toussaint N’Guessan, President, World Cocoa Producers’ Organization (WCPO/OMCC)
Panellists:
- Mr. Isidoro de la Rosa, President, CONACADO, Dominican Republic
- Ing. Freddy Benito Cabello Luna, UNOCACE, Ecuador
- Ms. Ouokanoua Victorine Kouaglou, Cooperative KOADO-DUE, Côte d’Ivoire
- Mrs. Leticia Ama-Kowoa Yankey, Cocoa Farmer, Ghana
17:00 Road to Sustainability: Initiatives by the industry
Scaling Impact through Alignment and Partnerships (panel 3)
Moderator: Mr. Omer Gatien Maledy, Executive Secretary, Interprofessional Cocoa and Coffee Council (CICC), Cameroon
Keynote presentation by Mr. Barry Parkin, Chairman, World Cocoa Foundation (WCF)
Panellists:
- Mr. Nicko Debenham, VP Global Cocoa Sustainability & MD Biolands Group, Barry Callebaut
- Mr. Taco Terheijden, Director Cocoa Sustainability, Cargill
- Mr. Simon Brayn-Smith, Director of Cocoa Sustainability, Olam International
- Ms Cathy Pieters, Director, Cocoa Life Program, Mondelēz International
18:15 End of day’s session
The “Women in Cocoa & Chocolate” (WINCC) Network event
18:30 – 20:30, Santo Domingo Room, Bávaro Convention Center
Food and chocolate journalist Simran Sethi led a lively discussion with Massandjé Touré-Litsé, Cathy Pieters and Maricel Presilla about their love for chocolate and the cocoa and chocolate community. This side event is organized by the ICCO and Solidaridad, to introduce women to their peers in the sector, to let them be better connected and strengthen their networks but also to enjoy chocolate and wine, whilst being a part of the launch of WINCC. The event was open to all registered female participants at the World Cocoa Conference!
TUESDAY, 24 May 2016
BREAKOUT SESSIONS
Track 1 The Future of Production
A transformational agenda for cocoa production
Moderator: Dr. Martin Gilmour, Cocoa Sustainability R&D Director, Mars Global Chocolate
08:30 Moderator’s introduction
09:00 Mapping cropping systems and farming practices (panel 4)
Presentation by Dr. Philippe Bastide, Advisor for Cocoa Matters, CIRAD
Panellists:
- Mr. Manfred Borer, Programme Director, Swiss Foundation for Technical Cooperation (Swisscontact)
- Professor Paul Hadley, Director, Centre for Horticulture, School of Agriculture, Policy and Development, University of Reading
- Dr. Verina Ingram, Assistant Professor, Wageningen UR
- Mr. Claro Blacio, General Manager, International Agribusiness Consulting, Ecuador
10:15 Cocoa Break
10:30 Improved planting material for superior flavour and yields (panel 5)
Presentation by Ms. Brigitte Laliberté, Scientist, Bioversity International
Panellists:
- Dr. Wilbert Phillips-Mora, Head, Cacao Genetic Improvement Program, CATIE
- Mr. Haya Ramba, Director of Biology Division, Malaysian Cocoa Board
11:30 Controlling Pests and diseases: the main threat to the expansion of the cocoa sector (panel 6)
With introduction by Mr. Pablo Jenkins, Standards and Trade Development Facility (STDF), World Trade Organization (WTO)
Presentation by Dr. Klaus Gehmann, Technical Excellence Lead Africa & Middle-East, Syngenta Crop Protection AG
Panellists:
- Dr. Jayne Crozier, Trade and Commodities Coordinator, CABI
- Dr. H. K. Dzahini-Obiatey, Chief Research Scientist, Cocoa Research Institute of Ghana (CRIG), Ghana
- Mr. Tony Lass MBE, Chairman, Cocoa Research Association Ltd. (CRA Ltd.)
13:00 Lunch
14:30 Assessing soil fertility and improving fertilization (panel 7)
Presentation by Mr. Rolando Ureña Aguilar, Commercial and Technical Manager Emerging Markets, Crop Nutrition, Yara
Panellists:
- Dr. François Ruf, Economist, CIRAD
- Mr. Jonas Mva Mva, Director Sustainable Development, Chocolat Cémoi
- Mr. Mathias Massande, Cooperative Mokabo, Gabon
15:30 Ground-breaking innovations in cocoa farming (panel 8)
Presentation by Mr. Angelo Calmon de Sá, Agricola Cantagalo, Brazil
Presentation by Mr. Andres Guzman, Executive Director, Hacienda Victoria, Ecuador
Panellists:
- Mr. Tony Lass MBE, Chairman, Cocoa Research Association Ltd. (CRA Ltd.) on behalf of Dr Barry Kitchen, Chairman and Director, Daintree Estates Cocoa, Australia
- Mr. Jose Jarrin, Country Manager, Netafim Ecuador S.A.
16:30 Cocoa Break and End of day’s session
Track 2 Markets & Trading
Market outlook and market structure (panel 9)
Moderator: Ms Judith Ganes, President, J. Ganes Consulting, LLC
08:30 Moderator’s introduction
09:00 Outlook for cocoa supply around the world (panel 9)
General overview by Mr. Laurent Pipitone, Director of the Economics and Statistics Division, ICCO
Africa production: reinforcing its dominant position
Presentation by Ms. Pamela Thornton, Armajaro Asset Management LLP
Asia production: can we still be optimistic?
Presentation by Mr. Frédéric Wenger, Head of Research, Cocoa, Olam International
Latin America and Caribbean production: how far can they go?
Presentation by Mr. Douglas Hawkins, Managing Director, Hardman Agribusiness
Panel session with all speakers
11:00 Cocoa Break
11:15 Competition, structure and pricing in the cocoa and chocolate sector (panel 10)
Presentation by Mr. Job Leuning, Sourcing Director, Cargill Cocoa & Chocolate
Presentation by Mr. Gary Guittard, CEO & President, Guittard Chocolate Company
Panellists:
- Mr. Michiel Hendriksz, Executive Director, FarmStrong Foundation
- Mr José Tomas Cedeño Cedeño, cooperative UNPROCAFA, Ecuador
12:30 Lunch
14:30 An introduction to Cocoa Futures Markets (Seminar) (panel 11)
General introduction by Ms. Judith Ganes, President, J. Ganes Consulting, LLC
A seminar conducted by Mr. Albert Scalla, Senior Vice President, INTL FCStone Inc.
Cocoa futures markets play an important role in the functioning of the world cocoa economy, by facilitating price risk shifting (hedging) and acting as a centre for the collection and dissemination of information on world cocoa bean prices. This seminar provided participants with basic economic or financial knowledge, with a better understanding of the role and functioning of cocoa futures markets. The seminar was open to all Conference participants.
16:30 Cocoa Break and End of day’s session
Track 3 Strengthening Sustainability
Better incomes and livelihoods for farmers
Moderator: Mr. Edmond Konan, CEO of GBCC and Chair of the CEN/ISO 415 Management Working Group
08:30 Moderator’s introduction
09:00 Can cocoa really provide a living income for smallholder growers? (panel 12)
Presentation by: Mr. Antonie Fountain, Managing Director, VOICE Network
Panellists:
- Hon. Abraham Adusei, Award-winning cocoa farmer, Ghana
- Mr. Sona Ebai, Chief of Party -African Cocoa Initiative, WCF
- Mr. Victor Ganoza, Country Director, Technoserve, Peru
- Dr. Anna Laven, Senior Advisor, Royal Tropical Institute (KIT)
10:00 Cocoa Break
10:15 Public-Private-Partnership platforms: how farmers benefit (panel 13)
Presentation by Mr. Andrew Bovarnick, Global Head Green Commodities Programme & Lead Natural Resource Economist, UNDP
Panellists:
- Mr. Edouard Kouassi N’Guessan, Deputy Director General, Production Sustainability and Technical Operations, Conseil Café-Cacao, Côte d’Ivoire
- Ing. Juan A. Cuello Ortiz, Executive Secretary, Comisión Nacional del Cacao, Dominican Republic
- Mr. Sayina Riman, President, Cocoa Association of Nigeria (CAN)
- Mr. Evans Tagbor, President of Akuafo Anigye Young Cocoa Farmers Association, Ghana
11:15 Child labour: upscaling on successful experiences (panel 14)
Moderator: Mr. Andrew Bovarnick, Global Head Green Commodities Programme & Lead Natural Resource Economist, UNDP
Presentation by Mr. Nick Weatherill, Executive Director, International Cocoa Initiative
Panellists:
- Mr. Emmanuel A Opoku, Deputy Director, Research (M&E), Ghana Cocoa Board, Ghana
- Mr. Amani Konan, National Consultant, Office of the First Lady of the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire
- Ms Aarti Kapoor, Managing Director, Embode
12:30 Lunch
Moderator: Mr. Antonie Fountain, Managing Director, VOICE Network
14:30 Raising women’s voice and attracting the young generation (panel 15)
Presentation by Ms Marina Korchynsky Morari, General Manager Community Development, Cocoa Sustainability, Barry Callebaut Sourcing AG
Panellists:
- Ms. Noemi Crisostomo, Vice-President, Chocolate de la Cuenca de Altamira (CHOCAL), the Dominican Republic
- Mr. Fred Frimpong, Programme Manager “MASO” Ghana, Solidaridad
- Ms. Solange N’Guessan Kouame, Executive Director, Union of Agricultural Cooperatives
- Ms. Elvira Ac Macz, Community Cloudforest Conservation, Guatemala
15:30 Adapting to climate change and benefiting from environmental schemes (panel 16)
Presentation by Mr. Christian Bunn, Researcher, International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT)
Panellists:
- Mr. Cedric van Cutsem, Cocoa Life Operations Manager, Mondelēz International
- Mr. Jeffrey Hayward, Vice President, Design and Innovation, Global Climate Lead, Rainforest Alliance
- Mr. Joseph Larrose, Director, Sustainable Sourcing Department, Touton
- Ms Amelia Quispe Macarco, Cooperative APECMU, Peru
16:30 Cocoa Break and End of day’s session
WEDNESDAY, 25 May 2016
BREAKOUT SESSIONS
Track 1 The Future of Production (continued)
The “de-commoditization” of cocoa and product developments in chocolate
Moderator: Mr. Conradin Rasi, Deputy Head of the Economic, Finance, Science and Innovation Section, Embassy of Switzerland, London
08:30 Moderator’s introduction
09:00 The production of fine / flavour and organic cocoa (panel 17)
Presentation by Mr. Federico Vignati, Principal Executive, Department of Environment and Climate Change, Development Bank for Latin America (CAF)
Presentation by Mr. Jose Iturrios Padilla, Director, Peru Cocoa Alliance
Panellists:
- Mr. Vernon Barrett, Director, The Caribbean Fine Cocoa Forum
- Mr. Martin Christy, Chair of Direct Cacao, and Founder of Seventy%
- Mr. Jorge Redmond, President/CEO, Chocolate El Rey
10:30 Cocoa Break
11:00 Improving market access and promoting quality and origin-identified cocoas (panel 18)
Presentation by Mr. Edward S. Seguine, Guittard Chocolate / Seguine Cacao
Panellists:
- Dr. Darin Sukha, Research Fellow/Food Technologist, Cocoa Research Centre, The University of the West Indies, Trinidad & Tobago
- Mr. Escipion Oliveira, Deputy Executive Director, the Caribbean Export Development Agency
- Mr. Pierre Costet, Taste Master, Valrhona
12:30 Lunch
Track 2 Markets & Trading (continued)
Demand prospect and product development for cocoa and chocolate around the world
Moderator: Ms. Simran Sethi, Author of “Bread, Wine, Chocolate: The Slow Loss of Foods we Love”
08:30 Moderator’s introduction
09:00 Stimulating innovation in cocoa post-harvesting methods for quality chocolate (panel 19)
By Dr. Martin Gilmour, Cocoa Sustainability R&D Director, Mars Global Chocolate; Ms. Sabine Nafziger, Secretary General, Caobisco and Ms. Catherine Entzminger, General Secretary, European Cocoa Association
Presentation by Ms. Naailah Aminah Ali, Contract Officer, Food Technology Section, Cocoa Research Centre, The University of the West Indies, Trinidad & Tobago
Presentation by Mr. Gricha Safarian, Managing Director, Puratos Grand-Place and Ms. Marie-Amélie Ormières, Cocoa Sourcing and Sustainability Manager, Puratos Group
Panellists:
- Ms. Hilary Barry, Training Unit Coordinator, EDES COLEACP
- Mr. Uliser Reyes Valdez, Cooperativa la Campesina R.L., Nicaragua
10:30 Cocoa Break
11:00 The future of chocolate in a challenging economic environment (panel 20)
Presentation by Mr. Jack Skelly, Food Analyst, Euromonitor International
Panellists:
- Dr. Torben Erbrath, Director, BDSI, Germany
- Mr. Eduardo A. Cortés Shehab, Vice President of Operations, Cortés Hermanos & Co.
- Ms. Amy Guittard, Director of Marketing, Guittard Chocolate Company
12:30 Lunch
Track 3 Strengthening Sustainability (continued)
Measuring and financing progress towards achieving a sustainable cocoa economy
Moderator: Mr. Daniele Giovannucci, President of the Committee on Sustainability Assessment (COSA)
08:30 Moderator’s introduction: Three Key Sustainability Trends You Should Know About: Directions in the Future of Cocoa
09:00 Sustainability: How the Roles of Certification and Standards are Now Evolving (panel 21)
Presentation by Mr. Han Loke Fong, Senior Economist, ICCO
Panellists:
- Mr. Jack Steijn, Chair, CEN/ISO committees on sustainable and traceable cocoa
- Mr. Matthew Lynch, Consultant, IISD Sustainable Markets and Responsible Trade Program
- Mr. Han de Groot, Executive Director, UTZ
- Mr. Abel Fernandez, Commercial Manager, Grupo Conacado, The Dominican Republic
10:15 Cocoa Break
10:30 Key Performance Indicators: Measuring Progress Towards Sustainability and Implementing the Global Cocoa Agenda (panel 22)
Presentation by Mr. Lucas Simons, Founder & CEO, Newforesight
Panellists:
- Mr. Assamoi Robert Yapo, Director for sustainability, partnerships and Projects, Conseil Café Cacao, Côte d’Ivoire
- Ms. Jennifer Golden, Monitoring & Evaluation Team Manager, WCF
- Mr. Christian Robin, Programme Manager, State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO), Switzerland
- Mr. Jean-Marie Delon, Cocoa Sustainability Lead, Côte d’Ivoire, Cargill
11:45 Sustainability Fund: A Feasible Mechanism to benefit Farmers? (panel 23)
Presentation by Mr. Friedel Hütz-Adams, Senior Researcher, Südwind e.V
Panellists:
- Ms. Sabine Nafziger, Secretary General, Caobisco
- Mr. Dick de Graff, Coordinator, Cocoa Steering Committee, EFFAT
- Mr. Sona Ebai, Chief of Party -African Cocoa Initiative, WCF
13:00 Lunch
PLENARY SESSIONS
Building bridges and aligning efforts towards a sustainable cocoa economy
Moderator: Dr. Jean-Marc Anga, Executive Director, International Cocoa Organization
14:30 Co-ordinating Efforts and Measuring Progress (panel 24)
Panellists:
- Mr. Alex Bruijnis, Senior Policy Advisor, Ministry of Economic Affairs, The Netherlands – EU Chair of the Commodities Working Party – Chairman, International Cocoa Council (ICCO)
- Dr. Martin Gilmour, Cocoa Sustainability R&D Director, Mars Global Chocolate & Chair of the WCC3 Technical Committee
- Mr. Tim McCoy, Acting President, WCF
- Mr. Aly Toure, Permanent Representative of Côte d’Ivoire to International Commodity Bodies & Spokesman for Cocoa Exporting Countries at the ICCO
- Mr. Antonie Fountain, Managing Director, VOICE Network
15:45 Cocoa Break
Conclusion of the Conference and Closing Ceremony
16:15 Remarks by Special Guest, Mr. Viwanou Gnassounou, Assistant Secretary-General, Sustainable Economic Development and Trade, African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States (ACP), on behalf of the Secretary-General Dr. Patrick Ignatius Gomes
16:30 Adoption of Recommendations: the Bávaro Cocoa Declaration
17:00 Closing remarks
- Dr. Jean-Marc Anga, Executive Director, ICCO
- Official Announcement of the host country, city and provisional dates for The Fourth World Cocoa Conference in 2018 by Mrs. Cornelia Berns, Head of Division International Trade Policy, Federal Ministry for Food and Agriculture, Germany
- Ing. Juan A. Cuello Ortiz, Executive Secretary, Comisión Nacional del Cacao, Dominican Republic
GALA DINNER
19:30 Mallorca Room, Hotel Bávaro Palace
THURSDAY, 26 May 2016
Fine and Flavour Cocoa Forum
This side event was organized by the ICCO with direct trade fine cacao organization Direct Cacao to share knowledge, encourage concertation, networking and business between all actors of the fine and flavour community, in particular cocoa growers, exporters and the cocoa and chocolate industry, from the craft chocolate makers to larger players. It was free of charge for all registered participants at the World Cocoa Conference.
PLENARY SESSION
Moderator: Mr. Martin Christy, Founder, Direct Cacao
11:00 Introduction, Opening Comments by H.E. Dr. Federico Alberto Cuello Camilo, Ambassador of the Dominican Republic to the United Kingdom
11:10 Market segments in fine cacao and fine chocolate: supply & demand, market size and realistic pricing
Presentation by Mr. Frank Homann, Founder and CEO, Xoco
11.30 Market Access: Promoting Quality and Origin Identification Cocoa
Presentation by Mr. Edward S. Seguine, Consultant – Guittard Chocolates/Seguine Cacao
12:00 Adapting to a more diverse flavour-based market: how to serve a changing market with many smaller customers and manage the need of the stakeholders
Presentation by Mr. Martin Christy, Founder, Direct Cacao
12:20 Open forum for Q&A
Panellists:
- Ing. Isidoro de la Rosa, CONACADO, Dominican Republic
- Mr. Bertil Åkesson, Åkesson’s Organic, UK/Madagascar
- Ms. Nidia Rodriguez, CPRACAJUL/APROCACAHO, Honduras
- Mr José Tomas Cedeño Cedeño, UNPROCAFA, Ecuador
13:00 Lunch
13:30 Developing the Fine and Flavour cocoa sector in Haïti
Presentation by Mr. David Millet, Genkakao Interprofession Cacao Haïti
14:00 Defining fine cacao: evaluating cacao and flavour profiling, technical and taste-based approaches
Presentation by Dr. Darin Sukha, Research Fellow/Food Technologist, Cocoa Research Centre, The University of the West Indies, Trinidad & Tobago
14:20 A science-based approach to taste: accessible flavour evaluation using latest neural-sensory approach
Presentation by Dr. Alex Rast, Research Associate, University of Manchester, UK
14:40 Transforming fine cacao into fine chocolate from farm to bar: Developing and Marketing Excellence in Cacao and Chocolate
Presentation by Dr. Maricel Presilla, FCIA/International Chocolate Awards
15:00 Open forum for Q&A
Panellists:
- Ing. Orlando Rodriguez, IDIAF, the Dominican Republic
- Mr. Art Pollard, Amano Chocolates, USA
- Ms. Brigitte Laliberté, Bioversity International, Italy
- Mr. Marcelo Gutierrez, CBI, Peru
16:00 Sensory Chocolate Tasting with Martin Christy and Maricel Presilla
17:00 Roundtable Discussions
Table 1: Productivity in Fine Cacao (Mr. Frank Homann)
Table 2: Marketing for end Consumers (Dr. Maricel Presilla)
Table 3: Post-harvest techniques for fine and flavour cocoa (Ms Naailah Aminah Ali, Ms Zoi Papalexandratou)
Table 4: Sustainability in the fine and flavour cocoa sector (Dr. Darin Sukha)
Table 5: Certification and labelling (Mr. Martin Christy)
Table 6: Cocoa of Excellence Chocolate Tasting (Ms. Brigitte Laliberté)
To download available presentations, click on the highlighted presenter names above
This issue of the Bulletin contains the Secretariat’s revised forecasts for the 2015/2016 cocoa year, as well as data for the past four years of production and grindings of cocoa beans, detailed by country. The main features of the global cocoa market are illustrated in colour charts. In addition, the Bulletin includes comments on crop and demand prospects in the leading countries for the current season, and a review of price developments on international markets for cocoa beans during the January-March quarter of 2016.
Papua New Guinea on 21 April 2016 signed the International Cocoa Agreement 2010, the United Nations Treaty Section has confirmed.
Madagascar on 29 December 2015 signed the International Cocoa Agreement 2010 and provisionally applied it, the United Nations Treaty Section has confirmed.
In mid-October, the ICCO’s Director of Economics and Statistics Mr. Laurent Pipitone took part in a series of conferences across Peru aimed at raising awareness about opportunities in the international market for fine or flavour cocoa.
Over a period of four days, Mr. Pipitone visited a number of different areas of the country. The first stop was Pucallpa, Ucayali, where he saw the fine or flavour cocoa fields using agroforestry systems in San Martin de Mojaral, Campos Verdes. Mr. Pipitone and the Alliance’s Director Mr. José Iturrios interviewed field owner, Mr. José Isuiza, who explained why he decided to invest in fine or flavour cocoa with the Peru Cocoa Alliance team.
In the capital, Lima, following press interviews with the national media, Mr. Pipitone took part in a conference bringing together national authorities, investors, traders and a range of stakeholders, before more interviews and a farewell reception.
