World Cocoa Conference 2024 Report Now Available

Abidjan, 07 August 2024 – The International Cocoa Organization (ICCO) is pleased to announce the publication of the report on the 5th edition of the World Cocoa Conference, held in Brussels from April 21st to April 24th, 2024. This landmark event brought together over 1000 stakeholders from across the global cocoa industry, including farmers, cooperatives, exporters, traders, manufacturers, brands, retailers, financial institutions, and government representatives from 75 countries.

The report provides a detailed account of the insightful discussions, key takeaways, and actionable recommendations that emerged from the conference. It serves as a valuable resource for all stakeholders committed to fostering a more equitable and sustainable cocoa sector.

The Brussels Declaration

The conference culminated in the adoption of the Brussels Declaration, encapsulating the outcomes and commitments of the event. The declaration stressed the need for regulatory compliance, shared responsibilities between consumer and producer nations, and collective efforts to strengthen sustainable supply chains.

Download the Full Report

For a detailed overview of the discussions, key insights, and recommendations from the World Cocoa Conference 2024, download the full report here.

Cost & Benefit Analysis of the EU and US Regulatory Changes for Organic Production

Abidjan, 24 July 2024 – In recent years, organic chocolate has seen significant growth in both the European Union (EU) and the United States (US), driven by consumer demand for healthier and ethically produced foods. However, with this growth comes the need for stricter regulatory frameworks to ensure the integrity and sustainability of organic production.

This comprehensive analysis delves into the latest regulatory changes in the EU and US concerning production and imports of organic agricultural goods – with a special emphasis on cocoa. The study, conducted by TERO and BASIC, evaluates the potential costs and benefits that these new regulations will impose on stakeholders across the entire value chain, in particular cocoa producers.

Key highlights include:

  • An overview of global organic cocoa production and market trends.
  • Detailed examination of the new EU and US organic regulations.
  • Analysis of the projected benefits and compliance costs for organic stakeholders.
  • Comparative scenarios for different producer groups and market contexts.

This document aims to provide stakeholders with valuable insights into how these regulatory changes will impact the organic cocoa and chocolate value chains, helping them navigate the evolving landscape with informed strategies.

See reports below:

English version (2Mb) Version française Versión español

Cocoa Market Report for June 2024

Abidjan, 14 July 2024 – The International Cocoa Organization releases the Cocoa Market Report for June 2024. The current report highlights the following insights:

  • At the start of the month under review, the cocoa market did not appear to be looking past the period of supply tightness and price rallies. Several price swings occurred in the first half of June as both Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana postponed deliveries of cocoa beans until next season due to poor crops resulting from unconducive weather conditions and Cocoa Swollen Shoot Virus Disease (CSSVD).
  • Despite the current shortage of beans, from mid-June till the end of the month, prices pulled back and broke out of their rallies. The driving force behind the softening in prices may have come from reports of conducive weather conditions supporting crop development and the consequent anticipation of a better main crop output for the upcoming 2024/25 cocoa season.
  • Observations derived from the price declines may also be due to traders taking a short position to sell more now and buy these contracts later at a lower price. Another observation during this period was the backwardation that occurred while prices were declining. Though the supply tightness is felt in both London and New York, the magnitude can be said to be more significant in London than New York especially considering that most of the cocoa from West Africa is destined for Europe, and with less cocoa in West Africa, this can impact the volume in London. Nevertheless, outside West Africa, production and consequently exports from countries in the Americas, like Ecuador among others, have been increasing.

You can download the complete report by clicking here.

5ª edición de la Conferencia Mundial del Cacao – Declaración de Bruselas 24/04/2024

Contexto: 

  1. Esta declaración, aunque no es legalmente vinculante, expresa las aspiraciones de todos los participantes de la WCC5 para apoyar esfuerzos destinados a lograr un sector del cacao global más sostenible.
  2. Todos los actores implicados deberían aprovechar la oportunidad que ofrece la situación actual de los precios internacionales para trabajar juntos y establecer el objetivo claro de que los cacaocultores alcancen un ingreso vital.
  3. Esta declaración es una continuación de las declaraciones de las Mesas Redondas sobre una Economía Cacaotera Sostenible (Accra 2007, Trinidad y Tobago 2009) y de las cuatro Conferencias Mundiales sobre el Cacao anteriores (Abidjan 2012, Ámsterdam 2014, Bávaro 2016 y Berlín 2018), haciendo balance del progreso logrado y de los retos con los que se enfrentan los actores implicados a la hora de promover una economía cacaotera mundial sostenible
  4. Dichas declaraciones abarcaron todos los aspectos de la economía cacaotera, y deberían haber ayudado a que el sector avanzara por el buen camino. Sin embargo, el ingreso de los cacaocultores todavía no les permite vivir de manera decente ni invertir en sus explotaciones; el cacao sigue estando asociado con la deforestación, y el trabajo infantil sigue siendo un problema persistente en el sector del cacao.
  5. Los asistentes a la Conferencia Mundial de Cacao 2018 ya reconocieron que no se podría lograr la sostenibilidad del sector cacaotero sin asegurar un ingreso digno, reconocido como un derecho humano.
  6. Es imprescindible que avancemos más allá de las declaraciones, promesas y compromisos para conseguir soluciones pragmáticas y resultados tangibles que aborden de manera eficaz los retos que suponen la pobreza de los cacaocultores, la deforestación y las peores formas de trabajo infantil.
  7. Todos los implicados en la cadena de valor del cacao deberían fomentar un espíritu de colaboración y cooperación, para apoyar la consecución de los objetivos de la Agenda Cacaotera Global.

Desarrollo Sostenible

  1. Los bajos precios al productor, así como los fluctuantes precios internacionales, tienen un fuerte impacto negativo sobre los ingresos y los medios de subsistencia de los cacaocultores, lo que supone una grave amenaza a la sostenibilidad. A pesar de la gravedad de este problema, los cacaocultores cuentan con escasa información precisa sobre el asunto. Los países productores, comparadores y actores industriales deberían promover la transparencia respecto a los precios pagados a los cacaocultores.
  2. El sector privado debería garantizar el establecimiento de prácticas de compra que tengan en cuenta los costes medioambientales y sociales de producir cacao sostenible. El precio pagado a los cacaocultores debería permitir que consigan unos ingresos dignos, que produzcan un cacao con deforestación cero, y que aborden el trabajo y la explotación infantil. Esto debería realizarse con base en principios reconocidos y normativas laborales internacionales, reflejando así el “verdadero coste” de la producción sostenible de cacao. Mientras tanto, los gobiernos de los países productores y consumidores de cacao deberían mejorar la transparencia y gobernanza del sector.
  3. Con el fin de asegurar dicha transparencia, así como la rendición de cuentas a lo largo de la cadena de valor del cacao, es fundamental que los participantes del sector privado sometan a verificación independiente sus declaraciones relativas a la sostenibilidad.
  4. Los gobiernos de los países productores deberían implementar programas de capacitación sobre buenas prácticas agrícolas y de manejo, en apoyo de los cacaocultores y fomentar la producción de cacao sostenible.
  5. Los gobiernos de los países productores deberían crear las condiciones adecuadas para que los cacaocultores y las organizaciones de cacaocultores tengan acceso a la financiación, incluida la micro financiación, como contribución esencial a la creación de un ecosistema propicio para el desarrollo de sus actividades.
  6. Los gobiernos de los países productores deberían brindar a los cacaocultores y a sus familiares unos servicios de protección social adecuados para garantizarles un nivel aceptable de vida.
  7. Los países consumidores deberían mejorar la sostenibilidad del sector cacaotero mediante el apoyo a iniciativas de desarrollo de capacidades, facilitando la inclusión financiera a través de mecanismos como la micro financiación y garantizando la provisión de servicios de protección social para los agricultores y sus familias. Esta colaboración con los países productores crucial para fortalecer las acciones destacadas en los anteriores puntos 11, 12 y 13, contribuyendo así a la creación de un sector cacaotero más sostenible y equitativo para todos los actores implicados. Los países consumidores deberían también promover prácticas de consumo sostenible para impulsar aún más la demanda de cacao producido de manera responsable.
  8. Todos los actores implicados deberían apoyar la reforestación, la aforestación y la agroforestería, con el fin de aumentar las reservas de carbono, la eliminación de dióxido de carbono, y reforzar la respuesta global al cambio climático. Este enfoque ofrece a los cacaocultores la oportunidad de proporcionar servicios ecosistémicos, por los cuales deberían ser justamente remunerados, incluyendo la opción de obtener créditos de carbono.
  9. Todos los actores implicados deberían reconocer el importante papel que las mujeres siempre han desempeñado en el proceso de producción y comercialización del cacao, y por apoyar la adquisición de las competencias necesarias para que se integren en una cadena de valor sostenible, reforzando así la igualdad humana. La igualdad de las mujeres debe ser promovida, tanto como una cuestión de derechos humanos, como una manera efectiva de abordar los diversos desafíos que enfrenta el sector.
  10. Los gobiernos de los países productores deberían esforzarse por mejorar el atractivo del sector, facilitando la renovación generacional y atrayendo una fuerza laboral cualificada, lo que garantizaría el rejuvenecimiento y modernización del sector del cacao.
  11. Los países productores subrayan la importancia que reviste el cultivo sostenible del cacao para la generación de empleos y emprendimientos económicamente viables como estrategia central de políticas de sustitución de cultivos ilícitos.

Desarrollo de Mercados

  1. Los gobiernos de los países consumidores deberían promover el acceso a mercados, y prestar apoyo, incluyendo asistencia financiera y desarrollo de capacidades, a los países productores de cacao para asegurar el cumplimiento con las normativas en materia de seguridad alimentaria, medio ambiente y derechos humanos.
  2. Los gobiernos y los actores implicados del sector privado están alentados a esforzarse por responder a la demanda cambiante de productos de cacao mediante la mejora del branding, la promoción de prácticas sostenibles y éticas. Esta promoción también debería enfatizar los aspectos de calidad y aroma, además de los atributos saludables y nutricionales del cacao y de los productos con alto contenido en cacao.
  3. Los gobiernos de los países productores deberían fomentar la agregación de valor mediante la promoción y desarrollo de subproductos del cacao, con el objetivo de diversificar los ingresos de los pequeños cacaocultores y facilitar su integración en la cadena de valor.

Gobernanza, Gestión y Funcionamiento de los Mercados

  1. Debería reforzarse la colaboración entre los actores implicados en el sector cacaotero, con el fin de armonizar los Marcos de Seguimiento y Evaluación existentes y, de esta manera, optimizar la apreciación del desempeño del sector.
  2. Los gobiernos deberían colaborar para establecer un marco legal que obligue a las empresas a realizar controles rigurosos sobre medio ambiente y derechos humanos, que reconozca la interconexión entre los aspectos sociales, ambientales y económicos de la sostenibilidad, y considere el ingreso vital como un factor incentivador para prácticas sostenibles en la cadena de valor. Todos los actores implicados en el sector cacaotero deberían reconocer que la pobreza es la principal causa de prácticas insostenibles.
  3. Todos los gobiernos deberían colaborar para implementar efectivamente legislación sobre productos vinculados a la deforestación. La cooperación entre los gobiernos de los países consumidores y los países productores es esencial para combatir eficazmente la deforestación, y las normas regionales son elementos clave para alcanzar los objetivos de deforestación cero. Las medidas tomadas para proteger el medio ambiente deben apoyar el acceso al mercado de los productos sostenibles.
  4. Todos los actores implicados deberían coordinar e intensificar sus actividades a favor de la eliminación del trabajo y la explotación infantil (tal y como lo define la Organización Internacional del Trabajo, OIT), reconociendo el papel que desempeña en este sentido el ingreso digno en los hogares y la necesidad de establecer sistemas que permitan identificar y remediar el trabajo infantil o forzoso.
  5. Todos los actores implicados deberían considerar las medidas necesarias para asegurar la previsibilidad de los precios del cacao de manera que beneficie al sector cacaotero a lo largo de toda la cadena de valor.
  6. Los gobiernos de los países productores deberían implementar políticas destinadas a coordinar la oferta de cacao, con el fin de maximizar los beneficios económicos, medioambientales y sociales para los actores implicados en el sector cacaotero en los países productores.
  7. Todos los gobiernos deberían fomentar la creación de mercados regionales de materias primas donde se comercialice el cacao, con el objetivo de optimizar el mecanismo de determinación de precios y facilitar el acceso de los cacaocultores al crédito.
  8. Es importante que todos los gobiernos garanticen que los cacaocultores accedan a la información de mercado relevante y que sus representantes estén involucrados en los procesos de toma de decisiones del sector, tanto a nivel nacional como internacional. Dicha participación debe incluir la toma de decisiones legales, el dialogo social, las negociaciones y derechos laborales y los diálogos en torno a los mercados de materias primas, con el fin de fortalecer su capacidad de negociación.
  9. Todos los actores implicados deberían reforzar su apoyo a la investigación y desarrollo científicos destinados a conseguir sostenibilidad, tanto de la producción como del consumo del cacao. Los países productores, con el apoyo de los países consumidores, deberían abordar los problemas relacionados con las plagas y enfermedades del cacao, que amenazan la sostenibilidad del sector.
  10. Todos los actores implicados deberían esforzarse por lograr una distribución equitativa de los riesgos y recompensas a lo largo de toda la cadena de suministro, mediante prácticas de compra que compensen a los cacaocultores a través de mecanismos que garanticen un precio justo, los protejan de los riesgos y aseguren que los actores del mercado sean responsables de su cumplimiento.
  11. Todos los gobiernos deberían facilitar la capacitación y la ayuda técnica y financiera necesarias para apoyar los sistemas que buscan ayudar a los pequeños cacaocultores a la hora de adaptarse a las nuevas regulaciones relacionadas con el comercio u otros asuntos. Las compañías privadas deberían continuar y apoyar estos esfuerzos.
  12. Todos los actores implicados deberían apoyar el establecimiento de sistemas de trazabilidad que incorporen la trazabilidad económica, medioambiental y social, que se sometan a auditorías independientes y a un seguimiento periódico y transparente. Estos sistemas de trazabilidad deberían estar diseñados para proporcionar  plataformas de negociación más justas entre compradores y cacaocultores, fortaleciendo así su posición en la cadena de valor.
  13. Las empresas y los gobiernos deberían asegurarse de que, al implementar sistemas de trazabilidad de la cadena de valor, proporcionen a las organizaciones de agricultores acceso y propiedad sobre los datos que recopilan, cuando los datos conciernan a los cacaocultores en cuestión.
  14. Debería establecerse un proceso de seguimiento de la Agenda Global del Cacao que incluya el cumplimiento de los nuevos compromisos asumidos en la presente declaración.

5ème édition de la Conférence mondiale du cacao – Déclaration de Bruxelles 24/04/2024

Contexte

  1. Cette déclaration, sans être juridiquement contraignante, formule les aspirations de toutes les parties prenantes ayant participé à la WCC5, à soutenir les efforts visant à atteindre un secteur cacaoyer mondial plus durable.
  2. Toutes les parties prenantes devraient saisir l’opportunité présentée par la situation actuelle des prix internationaux pour travailler ensemble et adopter l’objectif clair que les agriculteurs de cacao atteignent un revenu vital.
  3. Cette déclaration fait suite aux déclarations des tables rondes pour une économie cacaoyère durable (Accra 2007, Trinité-et- Tobago 2009) et des quatre conférences mondiales sur le cacao précédentes (Abidjan 2012, Amsterdam 2014, Bavaro 2016 et Berlin 2018) et faire bilan des progrès et des défis des parties prenantes en vue de la promotion d’une économie cacaoyère mondiale durable.
  4. Ces déclarations englobent tous les aspects de l’économie cacaoyère et auraient dû orienter le secteur dans la bonne direction Cependant, le revenu des cacaoculteurs ne leur permet toujours pas de vivre décemment et d’investir dans leurs exploitations ; le cacao reste associé à la déforestation, et le travail des enfants demeure un problème persistant dans le secteur du cacao.
  5. Lors de la Conférence mondiale sur le cacao de 2018, les parties prenantes avaient déjà reconnu que la durabilité du secteur cacaoyer ne peut être atteinte sans assurer un revenu vital, reconnu comme droit humain.
  6. Il est d’une importance primordiale d’aller au-delà des déclarations, des promesses et des engagements, de trouver des solutions pratiques et d’obtenir des résultats concrets afin de relever efficacement les défis de la pauvreté des cacaoculteurs, de la déforestation, et du travail des enfants.
  7. Toutes les parties prenantes de la chaîne de valeur du cacao devraient encourager un esprit de collaboration et de coopération afin de soutenir la réalisation des objectifs de l’Agenda global du cacao.

Développement durable

  1. Les faibles prix bord champ, et les fluctuations de prix mondiaux, ont un impact négatif important sur les revenus et les moyens d’existence des cacaoculteurs et constituent donc une menace sérieuse pour la durabilité. De plus, peu d’informations précises sont disponibles pour les cacaoculteurs. Les pays producteurs, les acheteurs, et acteurs industriels, devraient promouvoir la transparence concernant les prix payés aux cacaoculteurs
  2. Le secteur privé devrait assurer la mise en place de pratiques d’achat qui tiennent compte des coûts environnementaux et sociaux de la production de cacao durable. Le prix payé aux cacaoculteurs devrait leur permettre d’avoir une vie décente, de produire du cacao exempt de déforestation, de traiter la question du travail des enfants et leur exploitation. Ceci doit être réalisé tout en tenant compte des principes reconnus et des normes internationales du travail applicables, et en reflétant le « vrai coût » de la production de cacao durable. Parallèlement, les gouvernements des pays producteurs et consommateurs devraient améliorer la transparence et la gouvernance au sein du secteur.
  3. Afin d’assurer la transparence et la responsabilité tout au long de la chaîne de valeur du cacao, les acteurs du secteur privé devraient mener des vérifications indépendantes de leurs allégations en matière de durabilité.
  4. Les gouvernements des pays producteurs devraient s’assurer que des programmes de renforcement des capacités en matière de bonnes pratiques agricoles et post-récolte sont mis en œuvre pour soutenir les cacaoculteurs et promouvoir la production durable de cacao.
  5. Les gouvernements des pays producteurs devraient créer les conditions permettant aux cacaoculteurs et les organisations de cacaoculteurs d’avoir accès aux financements, y compris à la microfinance, en tant que contribution essentielle à la mise en place d’un écosystème favorable au développement de leurs petites entreprises.
  6. Les gouvernements des pays producteurs devraient fournir aux cacaoculteurs et aux membres de leur famille des services de protection sociale appropriés pour leur garantir un niveau de vie acceptable.
  7. Les pays consommateurs devraient renforcer la durabilité du secteur cacaoyer en soutenant des initiatives de renforcement des capacités, en facilitant l’inclusion financière à travers des mécanismes tels que la microfinance, et en assurant la fourniture de services de protection sociale pour les cacaoculteurs et leurs familles. Cette collaboration avec les pays producteurs est essentielle pour amplifier l’efficacité des mesures évoquées dans les points 11, 12 et 13 ci-dessus, contribuant ainsi à la création d’une industrie du cacao plus durable et équitable pour toutes les parties prenantes. Les pays consommateurs devraient également promouvoir des pratiques de consommation durable pour stimuler davantage la demande de cacao produit de manière responsable.
  8. Toutes les parties prenantes devraient encourager le reboisement, le boisement et l’agroforesterie pour augmenter les réserves de carbone forestier et l’absorption de CO2, renforçant ainsi la réponse mondiale au changement climatique. Cette approche permet aux cacaoculteurs de fournir des services écosystémiques pour lesquels ils perçoivent une rétribution, y compris des crédits carbones équivalents.
  9. Toutes les parties prenantes devraient reconnaître le rôle crucial que les femmes ont toujours joué dans le processus de production et de commercialisation du cacao et de faciliter l’obtention des compétences requises pour leur inclusion dans une chaîne de valeur durable, accroissant ainsi l’égalité des êtres humains. L’égalité des femmes doit être promue, à la fois comme une question de droits humains et comme un moyen efficace de relever les divers défis auxquels le secteur est confronté.
  10. Les gouvernements des pays producteurs doivent s’atteler à renforcer l’attrait du secteur cacaoyer pour favoriser un renouvellement générationnel et attirer des talents qualifiés, garantissant de ce fait le rajeunissement et la modernisation indispensables à l’avenir du secteur.
  11. Les pays producteurs ont souligné l’importance de la culture durable du cacao pour la création d’emplois et d’entrepreneuriat économiquement viable, et comme élément stratégique central pour les politiques de substitution des cultures illicites.

Développement du marché

  1. Les pays consommateurs devraient faciliter l’accès à leurs marchés et fournir un appui, incluant l’assistance financière et le renforcement des capacités, aux pays producteurs de cacao afin d’assurer le respect des règles en matière de sûreté alimentaire, d’environnement et de droits humains.
  2. Les gouvernements et les acteurs du secteur privé sont encouragés à s’efforcer de répondre à l’évolution de la demande de produits de cacao via l’amélioration de l’image de marque, la promotion des pratiques durables et éthiques. Cette promotion devra souligner les aspects liés à la qualité et à la saveur, mais aussi sur les bienfaits du cacao et des produits à haute teneur en cacao en matière de santé et de nutrition.
  3. Les gouvernements des pays producteurs de cacao devraient encourager l’ajout de valeur par la promotion et le développement des sous-produits du cacao dans les pays producteurs de cacao afin de diversifier les revenus des petits cacaoculteurs et de faciliter leur intégration dans la chaîne de valeur.

Gouvernance, gestion et fonctionnement des marchés

  1. La collaboration entre tous les acteurs cacaoyers devrait être renforcée afin d’harmoniser les cadres de suivi et d’évaluation existants et de mieux évaluer les performances du
  2. Les gouvernements doivent collaborer pour établir un cadre juridique en matière d’environnement et de droits humains pour les entreprises, qui reconnaît l’interconnexion entre les aspects sociaux, environnementaux et économiques de la durabilité, et considère le revenu vital comme un facteur incitatif pour les pratiques durables dans la chaîne de valeur. Toutes les parties prenantes devraient reconnaître que la pauvreté est la cause première de pratiques non durables.
  3. Tous les gouvernements devraient collaborer pour mettre en œuvre efficacement une législation sur les produits liés à la déforestation. La coopération entre les gouvernements des pays consommateurs et les pays producteurs est essentielle pour lutter efficacement contre la déforestation, et les normes régionales sont des éléments essentiels pour atteindre les objectifs de zéro déforestation. Les mesures prises pour protéger l’environnement devraient favoriser l’accès au marché pour les produits durables.
  4. Toutes les parties prenantes devraient coordonner et accroître leurs efforts pour contribuer à l’élimination du travail des enfants et leur exploitation, tel que défini par l’Organisation internationale du travail (OIT), en reconnaissant le rôle joué à cet égard par un revenu vital des ménages et la nécessité d’établir des systèmes permettant d’identifier et d’éliminer le travail des enfants et le travail forcé.
  5. Toutes les parties prenantes devraient envisager les mesures nécessaires pour assurer la prévisibilité des prix du cacao de manière à bénéficier au secteur du cacao tout au long de la chaîne de valeur.
  6. Les gouvernements des pays producteurs devraient mettre en œuvre des politiques visant à coordonner l’offre de cacao pour maximiser les bénéfices économiques, environnementaux et sociaux des acteurs cacaoyers dans les pays producteurs.
  7. Tous les gouvernements devraient améliorer les mécanismes de formation des prix et l’accès des cacaoculteurs au crédit via la mise en place de bourses régionales pour le négoce du cacao.
  8. Tous les gouvernements devraient s’assurer que les cacaoculteurs ont accès aux informations nécessaires sur le marché et que leurs représentants participent au processus de prise de décision national et international dans le secteur. Cet engagement devrait permettre aux organisations de cacaoculteurs de participer à l’élaboration des règlementations, au dialogue social, aux négociations en matière de travail et aux droits des travailleurs, ainsi qu’aux discussions sur les bourses de produits de base, dans l’optique de renforcer leur pouvoir de négociation.
  9. Toutes les parties prenantes devraient accroître leur soutien à la recherche scientifique et au développement en faveur de la production et de la consommation durables. Les pays producteurs, avec l’appui des pays consommateurs, devraient traiter les problèmes liés aux ravageurs et maladies du cacao qui menacent la durabilité du secteur.
  10. Toutes les parties prenantes devraient œuvrer pour une répartition équitable des risques et des avantages tout au long de la chaîne de valeur en adoptant des pratiques d’achat qui compensent les cacaoculteurs au moyen de mécanismes garantissant un prix équitable, les protégeant des risques et assurant que les acteurs du marché sont tenus responsables de l’adhésion.
  11. Tous les gouvernements devraient fournir des services de renforcement des capacités et d’assistance technique et financière requis pour soutenir les systèmes visant à aider les petits cacaoculteurs dans l’adaptation aux nouvelles réglementations concernant le commerce ou d’autres questions. Les entreprises devraient continuer de soutenir ou de contribuer à ces
  12. Toutes les parties prenantes devraient soutenir la mise en place de systèmes de traçabilité intégrant les aspects économiques, environnementaux et sociaux, soumis à une vérification indépendante et contrôlés de façon régulière et transparente. Ces systèmes de traçabilité devraient être élaborés de telle sorte qu’ils contribueront à établir une plateforme de négociation plus équitable entre les acheteurs et les cacaoculteurs, renforçant ainsi leur position dans la chaîne de valeur.
  13. Les entreprises doivent garantir qu’en mettant en place la traçabilité de la chaîne de valeur, les organisations de producteurs détiennent l’accès et la propriété des données recueillies, surtout lorsque ces données concernent les cacaoculteurs en question.
  14. Le processus de suivi de l’Agenda mondial du cacao couvrira la tenue des nouveaux engagements pris dans la présente déclaration.

5th edition of the World Cocoa Conference – Brussels Declaration 24/04/2024

Context

  1. This declaration, while not legally binding, articulates the aspirations of all stakeholders who have participated in the WCC5 to support efforts aimed at achieving a more sustainable global cocoa sector.
  2. All stakeholders should seize the opportunity offered by the current situation of international prices to work together and adopt the clear goal that cocoa farmers achieve a living income.
  3. This Declaration follows declarations of the Roundtables on a Sustainable Cocoa Economy (Accra 2007, Trinidad and Tobago 2009) and of the past four World Cocoa Conferences (Abidjan 2012, Amsterdam 2014, Bavaro 2016 and Berlin 2018) and taking stock of the progress and challenges of stakeholders in promoting a sustainable world cocoa economy.
  4. These declarations encompassed every aspect of the cocoa economy and should have moved the sector in the right direction. However, the income of farmers still does not allow them to make a decent living and to invest in their farms, cocoa remains associated with deforestation, and child labour remains a persistent problem in the cocoa sector.
  5. At the World Cocoa Conference 2018, stakeholders had already acknowledged that sustainability in the cocoa sector cannot be achieved without securing a living income, recognized as a human right.
  6. It is of paramount importance to move beyond declarations, promises and commitments to deliver pragmatic solutions and tangible outcomes that effectively address the challenges of farmer poverty, deforestation, and child
  7. All stakeholders involved in the cocoa value chain should foster a spirit of collaboration and cooperation among themselves to support the achievement of the Global Cocoa Agenda’s objectives.

Sustainable Development

  1. Low farm gate prices, as well as fluctuating international prices, have a strong negative impact on farmers’ incomes and livelihoods, and therefore pose a serious threat to sustainability. Furthermore, little accurate information is available to the farmers. Producing countries, buyers, and industry actors should promote transparency with regards to prices paid to farmers.
  2. The private sector should ensure the establishment of purchasing practices that take into account the environmental and social costs of producing sustainable cocoa. The price paid to farmers should allow them to make a decent living, produce zero-deforestation cocoa and address child labour and exploitation. This must be done while bearing in mind recognized principles and applicable international labour standards and reflecting the “true cost” of sustainable cocoa production. Meanwhile, governments of both producing and consuming countries should improve the transparency and governance within the sector.
  3. To further ensure transparency and accountability throughout the cocoa value chain, private sector actors should conduct independent verification of their sustainability claims.
  4. Producing countries should ensure that capacity building programmes on good agricultural and handling practices are put in place to support cocoa farmers and promote sustainable production of cocoa.
  5. Producing countries governments should create the conditions for farmers and farmer organizations to have access to finance, including micro-finance as an essential contribution to put in place a favourable ecosystem for the development of their businesses.
  6. Producing countries government should provide farmers and their family members with adequate social protection services to guarantee them acceptable standards of living.
  7. Consuming countries should enhance the sustainability of the cocoa sector by supporting capacity-building initiatives, facilitating financial inclusivity through mechanisms like micro-finance, and ensuring the provision of social protection services for farmers and their families. The collaboration with producing countries is crucial in reinforcing the actions highlighted in points 11, 12, and above, thereby contributing to the creation of a more sustainable and equitable cocoa sector for all stakeholders. Consuming countries should also promote sustainable consumption practices to further drive the demand for responsibly produced cocoa.
  8. All stakeholders should support reforestation, afforestation, and agroforestry, to enhance forest carbon stocks and removals, and to strengthen the global response to climate This approach offers cocoa farmers the opportunity to provide ecosystem services for which they should receive compensations, including commensurate carbon credits.
  9. All stakeholders should acknowledge the important role that women have always played in the cocoa production and marketing process and supporting the acquisition of the skills necessary for their inclusion in a sustainable value chain, thereby strengthening human equality. Women’s equality should be worked for, both as a human rights issue, as well as an effective way to tackle the diverse challenges facing the sector.
  10. Producing countries’ governments should strive to improve the sector’s attractiveness to enable generational renewal and attract a skilled workforce, ensuring rejuvenation and modernization of the cocoa sector.
  11. Producing countries highlighted the importance of sustainable cocoa cultivation for generating employment and economically viable entrepreneurship as a key strategy for policies aiming to substitute illicit crops.

Market Development

  1. Consuming countries should promote market access and provide support, including financial assistance and capacity building, to cocoa producing countries to ensure compliance with food safety, environmental and human rights regulations.
  2. Producing countries governments and private sector actors are encouraged to strive to meet the evolving demand for cocoa products through enhanced branding and the promotion of sustainable and ethical practices. This promotion should also emphasize the quality and flavour aspects as well as health and nutritional attributes of cocoa and products with high cocoa
  3. Producing countries government should stimulate value addition through the promotion and development of cocoa-by products in cocoa producing countries aiming at diversifying small-scale cocoa farmers income and facilitating their integration into the value chain.

Governance, Management and the Functioning of Markets

  1. Collaboration among all stakeholders should be strengthened to harmonize existing Monitoring and Evaluation Frameworks and better assess the sector
  2. Governments should collaborate to pass legislation on environmental and human rights due diligence of companies that recognises the interconnection between social, environmental, and economic aspects of sustainability and that recognises the importance of living income as a systemic driver for sustainable practices in the supply All stakeholders should recognize that poverty is the root cause of unsustainable practices.
  3. All governments should collaborate to effectively implement legislation on products linked to deforestation. Cooperation between consuming and producing country governments is essential to effectively tackle deforestation, and regional standards are important elements to reach zero-deforestation objectives. Measures taken to protect the environment should support market access for sustainable products.
  4. All stakeholders should coordinate and scale up their actions to contribute to the elimination of child labour and exploitation (as defined by the International Labour Organization, ILO) recognising the role that living income for households plays in this regard and the need to establish systems allowing for the identification and remediation of child and forced labour.
  5. All stakeholders should consider the necessary measures to ensure the predictability of cocoa prices in a way that benefits the cocoa sector throughout the value chain.
  6. Producing countries governments should put in place policies aiming at coordinating cocoa supply to maximize the economic, environmental and social benefits of cocoa stakeholders in producing countries.
  7. All governments should promote regional commodity exchanges trading cocoa, as a way to enhance price discovery mechanism and farmers access to credit.
  8. All governments should ensure that farmers have access to the necessary market information and that their representatives are involved in national and international decision-making process in the sector. This involvement should extend to legal decision-making, social dialogue, labour negotiations and rights, and discussions on market exchanges, all aimed at enhancing their bargaining
  9. All stakeholders should strengthen their support to cocoa scientific research and development into sustainable production and consumption. Producing countries, with the assistance of consuming countries, should address issues related to cocoa pests and diseases that threaten the sustainability of the
  10. All stakeholders should strive toward an equitable distribution of risk and rewards throughout the whole supply chain through purchasing practices that compensate farmers, through mechanisms guaranteeing a fair price, shielding them from risk, and ensuring that market actors are held accountable for
  11. All governments should provide capacity building services, technical and financial assistance as required to support systems aiming to help smallholders in adapting to new regulations concerning trade or other matters. Private companies should continue or contribute to support these efforts.
  12. All stakeholders should support the establishment of traceability systems that incorporate economic, environmental, and social traceability and that are independently audited, and regularly and transparently monitored. These traceability systems should be designed to provide a better negotiating platform between buyers and farmers, empowering them in the supply chain.
  13. Companies and governments should ensure that, in conducting supply chain traceability, they provide farmers’ organisations with access and ownership over the data that are being collected, when the data concerns members of the farmers’ organisation in question.
  14. The follow-up process of the Global Cocoa Agenda will cover the achievement of the new commitments undertaken in the present declaration.

Call for bids to host the 3rd edition of the International Symposium on Cocoa Research – Exporting countries

Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, 19 June 2024. The ICCO Secretariat is pleased to announce the relaunching of the process for the selection of the host country for the 3rd edition of the International Symposium on Cocoa Research (ISCR), to take place during the first half of 2026.

The first edition of the ISCR was held in Lima, Peru in November 2017; and the 2nd edition was held in Montpellier, France in December 2022. The Secretariat invites exporting Members to submit their bids to host this event by 16 August 2024.

This call for bids will also be open to non-Member countries.

Preference will be given to submissions from African or Asian Member countries.

TERMS OF REFERENCE

The ICCO International Symposium on Cocoa Research (ISCR) is a 4-day event during which cocoa scientists from different academic disciplines exchange their latest scientific findings and agree on priorities for collective actions. A scientific committee, to be established by the ICCO, will be in charge of the Symposium’s programme and the selection of abstracts under the guidance of the ICCO Secretariat.

Cocoa-exporting countries, preferably from the African or Asian continent, interested in hosting the 3rd ISCR are invited submit their bids to the ICCO Secretariat. Their expression of interest will indicate which of the following items they or their government will fully or partially finance and any other additional points that would enhance their bid to host the Symposium.

The applicant should commit to contribute 50% of the total budget of the symposium and include a written confirmation of this commitment in the bid. The other half of the budget will be covered by the ICCO. Based on the final costs of the 2nd ISCR, the estimated budget is approximately USD500,000. Therefore, applicants should be prepared for a similar financial obligation (see Annex 1).

Convention sector professionals, tour operators and other private companies active in the hospitality and conference sector are kindly requested to provide evidence of the support (financial, and otherwise) of their public authorities.

1. LOCATION. The venue should be in a city with easy access to an international airport.

2. ACCOMMODATION. A number of hotels should be identified with preferential rates negotiated for participants. The hotels should include two to five-star hotels to cater for different budgets for participants.

3. CONFERENCE ROOMS. The main conference room should have a minimum seating capacity of 500 participants. Two additional rooms are needed to hold breakout or parallel sessions. As an alternative, the main conference room could be partitioned into three conference rooms.

4. RESEARCH DISPLAY/EXHIBITION SPACE. A Poster exhibition and another exhibition will take place during the symposium. The symposium venue should have enough space, adjacent to the conference rooms, to allow up to 50 standard 9 square metre exhibition stands.

5. AUDIO–VISUAL AND OFFICE EQUIPMENT. AV, IT and office equipment (microphones, projectors, screens, laptops, printers, office supplies, etc.) are required for the three conference rooms.

6. SIMULTANEOUS INTERPRETATION. Simultaneous interpretation into English, French and Spanish should be available throughout the symposium in all conference rooms. Relevant interpretation personnel and equipment (headphones and translation booths) are required.

7. SMALL ROOMS. Three small rooms should be available at the conference venue. One room should serve as an office for the ICCO Secretariat and, therefore, be equipped with a number of computers, printers and a good internet connection. The other two should be available to allow for group meetings whenever these are required during the symposium.

8. REGISTRATION BOOTH STANDS AND SIGNAGE. Booths set up in order for participants to register and signage in the symposium venue should be available.

9. STAFF FOR REGISTRATION, HOSTESSES AND RAPPORTEURS. Under the guidance of the ICCO Secretariat, an adequate number of staff to handle symposium registration and to direct delegates at all events throughout the period of the symposium should be available. Rapporteurs should be available to assist the ICCO Secretariat in drafting the reports for each session.

10. CATERING SERVICES. Participants at the symposium will be provided with daily lunch at the symposium venue. In addition, participants will be provided with cocoa drinks, coffee, tea and snacks during breaks. Arrangements should be made within the symposium venue for an appropriate nearby space where participants can have their lunches and cocoa breaks.

11. GALA DINNER. A gala dinner for all participants, to be held either at the symposium venue or at an appropriate offsite venue with transportation provided, should be included in the bid. While participants to the gale dinner will have to pay their participation, bidders are encouraged to fully sponsor the gala dinner.

12. CULTURAL/COCOA–RELATED EVENTS OR VISITS. Part of the hospitality to be provided by the host could include cultural events to showcase the rich culture of the host country and/or a cocoa/chocolate-related visit.

13. VISA. Assistance to obtain entry visas for symposium participants should be provided. This could include a personal invitation letter from the Host Government to be sent – on request – to participants following registration, information on visa procedures, etc.

The deadline for the ICCO Secretariat to receive a formal bid to host the International Symposium on Cocoa Research is 16 August 2024, 16:00 UTC.

Bids should be sent in digital format to Mr José JIMÉNEZ PUERTA, Economist, International Cocoa Organization,

jose.jimenez-puerta@icco.org

The International Cocoa Council will consider all formal bids by 4 October 2024 at the latest.

For further information or enquiries about bidding for the 3rd International Symposium on Cocoa Research, please contact Mr José Jiménez Puerta, Economist, International Cocoa Organization; DL: +225 27 22 51 49 60; Mobile: +225 07 78 55 25 10; email: jose.jimenez-puerta@icco.org

World cocoa bean stocks as at 31 March 2024

London, 19 June 2024. Following the recommendations of the International Cocoa Council made in April 2024, the ICCO Expert Working Group on Stocks (EWG-S) met today, Wednesday 19 June 2024 to review the level of world cocoa bean stocks as at 31 March 2024. The EWG-S is composed of experts in the cocoa field who meet, at the invitation of the ICCO, to review and analyse the results of the ICCO’s survey of cocoa bean stocks held in European warehouses as well as assess the level of global cocoa bean stocks. This is the first time a mid-term survey has been carried out.

Table 1 shows the volumes of identified cocoa stocks, in 1,000 tonnes, held in warehouses which have participated in both the September 2023 and March 2024 surveys.

Location Sep-23 Mar-24
Europe (36 warehouses) 668 665
ICE US 323 267
Côte d’Ivoire 67 110
Ghana 29 16
Total 1087 1058

Table 2 shows the volumes of identified cocoa stocks, in 1,000 tonnes, held in the warehouses which have provided data for March 2023, September 2023 and March 2024.

Location Mar-23 Sep-23 Mar-24
Europe (35 warehouses) 664 622 623
ICE US 345 323 267
Ghana 63 29 16
Total 1072 974 906

For more information, please contact Elizabeth Gyamfi, Senior Statistician, International Cocoa Organization, ICCO Building, II Plateaux ENA – Avenue Boga Doudou, Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire; Tel: +225 27 22 51 49 50/51 | Fax: +225 27 22 51 49 79 |

E-mail: Elizabeth.Gyamfi@icco.org 

 

WCC5 Opening speech Michel Arrion – ICCO Executive Director

Speech by the ICCO Executive Director

World Cocoa Conference

Brussels, 22 April 2024

 

 

** Ministers,**

 

**Ambassadors,**

 

**Ladies and Gentlemen in your respective ranks, titles, and positions,**

 

**Dear Participants,**

 

This morning, I would like to revisit the main theme of the Conference and its relevance to our Organization, particularly its Strategic Program for 2024–2029, which has placed the increase of small producers’ income at the heart of its strategy. We will also show the link between this theme and the various panels we have scheduled for tomorrow, Tuesday.

The theme of our Conference, “Paying More for Sustainable Cocoa,” should be understood with its subtitle, “For a More Equitable Distribution of Added Value Along the Cocoa Supply Chain.”

We can distinguish three main ideas here: (i) paying more; (ii) in relation to sustainability; (iii) throughout the supply chain.

Let’s revisit these one by one, trying to define or clarify the concepts.

Paying More.

Here we are, of course, referring to the price paid to the small producer, that is, the farm-gate price or the cooperative price, depending on the case. Several points need to be recalled here:

– Prices are low and are not sufficient to achieve a decent income.

– Small producers are poor and cannot live off their cocoa.

– Cocoa is a monoculture, often constituting their only resource.

– Historically, prices have continually declined in real terms. Here I would like to open a parenthesis and remind you not to confuse real prices with nominal prices. A dollar in 2024 cannot be compared to a dollar in 1980 or 1990. Even less so a euro… It is necessary to take inflation and exchange rate variations into account when comparing price levels over a long period.

So how do we manage the mechanisms of setting the farm-gate price paid to the producer in order to increase it?

First, we need to distinguish between countries where prices are regulated, that is, set by the governments of producing countries, and countries where the market determines the prices.

I would like to clarify here that the setting of agricultural prices and agricultural subsidies in general are widely practiced around the world, directly or indirectly, including in liberal economies like the European Union or the United States of America.

For decades, Europe, with the Common Agricultural Policy, subsidized European farmers by setting higher domestic prices than international prices. Ultimately, it was the European consumer who contributed to the financing of the CAP. In the United States, successive “Farm Bills” provide various supports to American farmers in the form of safety nets, loans, crop insurance, etc. Here, it is not the American consumers but the American taxpayers who ultimately finance the system.

In countries where prices are regulated, the authorities in charge of the cocoa sector often aim to ensure that producers benefit from a substantial share of the world price, that is, the price on international markets. They then set the farm-gate price at a high percentage, for example, 70% of the world price. We see that in reality, the “setting” of the price is largely dependent on the level of the world market price. If we want high farm-gate prices, we need high world prices. A necessary but not sufficient condition, as we will soon see.

For world prices to be high, supply must of course be lower than demand. Therefore, production must be stabilized, surpluses must be avoided, and demand must be stimulated, that is, cocoa consumption must be promoted.

The current market situation sufficiently proves the impact of stabilized supply at levels below demand. Prices react more than proportionally to supply variations. And sometimes much more.

Many will remember the price drop of more than 30% in 2016/2017, due to an increase in production of about 15%. We are now in the opposite situation with a production decline of 10% and price increases, much more than proportional, ranging from 75% to 200%, depending on the comparisons made.

In countries where prices are not regulated and where markets determine prices, the situation is hardly different, and governments have every interest in monitoring market placements and managing production to keep prices high.

Undoubtedly, the panel scheduled for tomorrow on supply management will allow us to delve deeper into these issues.

I would now like to clarify that, in countries where prices are regulated, the transmission of world price variations is not always automatic and immediate, which of course poses problems during the year. In guaranteed price systems, prices should probably be recalculated more often rather than just once a year. But this means adapting the way forward sales are made, and especially the volumes covered by these forward sales, by renewing operations more frequently to better match market variations.

Regarding demand, that is, promoting consumption, we must act on both qualitative and quantitative aspects.

Developing a market segment for high-quality organoleptic cocoa, developing premium cocoa, will allow the development of cocoa appreciated by consumers who are willing to pay the price. I am sure that tomorrow, several panels and speakers will put the issues of “decommodification” of cocoa and “market segmentation” on the discussion table.

But on the quantitative level as well, much work remains to be done to develop “new markets,” emerging markets. The European and North American markets are almost saturated in terms of per capita consumption and demographics. The new Asian markets are the future of global cocoa consumption growth, as it is in Asia that the two conditions for demand growth will be met: demographics and the emergence of a middle class with sufficient income to consume chocolate products.

Let us now move on to the second main idea.

The Link with Sustainability.

Cocoa production has a high environmental and social cost, and this cost is rarely included in the value of cocoa. It should be. The panel tomorrow on the “true cost” of cocoa will allow us to discuss this issue in detail.

Moreover, compliance with social and environmental sustainability standards, both the standards of producing countries and the standards of consuming countries, represents a high cost. This cost should not fall on the producers; it should be absorbed by other stakeholders in the supply chain. Another panel tomorrow on the impact of policies and regulations will allow us to discuss this important issue. Our message must be clear: we aspire to higher cocoa prices, both to improve producer income and to cover the costs of social and environmental externalities and compliance costs. In other words, if we want sustainable cocoa, it must be paid for at its fair price, which must include all direct and indirect costs. As Her Majesty the Queen reminded us this morning, prices and sustainability are two sides of the same coin.

Let us now move on to the third and final main idea.

The Distribution of Value Along the Supply Chain.

The distribution of value along the marketing chain, as we know, is very inequitable. Yesterday afternoon, during a side event organized by GIZ with the consulting firm Basic, we were able to discuss in detail the distribution of costs and margins of each actor in the chain. Basic’s study shows that variations in value creation, costs, and margins mainly occur at the last two stages of the chain: the manufacture of finished chocolate products and distribution. So how do we increase the share for small producers?

I would like to clarify an important point here: it seems illusory to ask all stakeholders in the chain to reduce their profit margins for the benefit of producers. Everyone will tell you that their net margins are very slim: collectors, processors, wholesalers, exporters, importers, grinders, chocolate and confectionery manufacturers, distributors… None of them want to reduce their share.

The solution is not to ask everyone to reduce their slice of the pie. The solution is to make a bigger pie! We need to create value per ton of cocoa, increase prices and margins for everyone, and make the final consumer pay.

In conclusion: when I mentioned at the beginning of my speech that the theme of the Conference could be interpreted as calling for paying farmers more for sustainable cocoa, I think it can also be interpreted as a call to final consumers to pay more for sustainable cocoa.

Thank you.

May 2024 Quarterly Bulletin of Cocoa Statistics

Abidjan, 31 May 2024 – The International Cocoa Organization today releases its revised forecasts for the 2023/24 cocoa year and revised estimates of world production, grindings and stocks of cocoa beans for the 2022/23 cocoa year. The data published in Issue No. 2 – Volume L – Cocoa year 2023/24 of the Quarterly Bulletin of Cocoa Statistics, reflect the most recent information available to the Secretariat as at the beginning of May 2024.

As the 2023/24 season progresses, it is certain the season will end in a higher deficit than previously expected. Much lower cocoa supplies from the leading producing countries have further extended the supply deficit.  Global production and grindings are projected to decline by -11.7% to 4.461 million tonnes and by -4.3% to 4.855 million tonnes.

Though at the start of the season, there was uncertainty regarding cocoa demand due to increasing cocoa prices, current available data reveal that cocoa grinding activities have so far been unrelenting in importing countries despite the record cocoa price rallies. However, grinding at origin which was earlier on viewed as an impetus to prop up demand, as producing countries engaged earnestly in value addition investments, has slowed down due to the lack of beans.

Regarding cocoa trade, global exports of cocoa beans and semi-finished cocoa products, measured in bean equivalent, reached 2.36 million tonnes during October to December 2023, representing a decrease of almost 6% compared to 2.5 million tonnes recorded during the same period in the previous season. The decline in trade activities may be a consequence of the supply tightness from top producing countries in West Africa.

A review of price developments on international markets for cocoa beans during the January-March quarter of 2024 is also presented.

Summary of revised estimates

 

Cocoa year
(Oct-Sep)		 2022/2023 2023/2024 Year-on-year change
Revised
estimates		 Previous
estimates a/		 Revised
estimates
(thousand tonnes) (Per cent)
World gross production 5 047 4 449 4 461 – 586 – 11.7%
World grindings 5 073 4 779 4 855 – 218 – 4.3%
Surplus/deficit b/ – 76 – 374 – 439
 
End-of-season stocks 1 767 1 395 1 328 – 439 – 24.8%
Stocks/Grindings ratio 34.8% 29.2% 27.4%

Notes:
a/ Estimates published in Quarterly Bulletin of Cocoa Statistics, Vol. L – No. 1 – Cocoa year 2023/24
b/  Surplus/deficit: net world crop (gross crop adjusted for loss in weight) minus grindings. Totals may differ due to rounding

Statistical information on trade in cocoa beans, cocoa products and chocolate, by country and by region, published in this edition, covers annual data from 2020/21 to 2022/23 and quarterly statistics for the period April-June 2022 to October-December 2023. Details on destinations of exports and origins of imports for leading cocoa exporting countries are also provided.

Caution should be exercised in the interpretation of the data in this issue of the Bulletin as they may be subject to revisions in subsequent Bulletins and reports from the Secretariat.

Copies of the Quarterly Bulletin of Cocoa Statistics, in Microsoft Excel and Adobe PDF formats, can be ordered from the new ICCO e-Shop: www.icco.org/shop or by email: statistics.section@icco.org