LONDON, 24 April 2013—International trader and processor Transmar Group on 15 April became latest cocoa stakeholder to sign the Abidjan Cocoa Declaration, joining well over 30 other organizations in support of the recommendations that arose out of the World Cocoa Conference in Abidjan last November.
Transmar Group President Peter G. Johnson signed the Declaration on behalf of the family-owned company, founded in the US in 1980 as a trading house. Transmar has since expanded into an integrated service provider with processing factories in Europe, Latin America and North America, as well as sales offices and representation globally. The group has been steadily increasing its commitment to promoting sustainable farming practices through industry initiatives and privately managed partnerships in Ecuador, Sierra Leone and Tanzania among other places.
Transmar joins some of the most important cocoa sector stakeholders, ranging from cocoa growers through their governments to civil society and most of the world’s largest manufacturers of chocolate, who began the signing of the ground-breaking agreement during the World Cocoa Conference.
“The Abidjan Cocoa Declaration demonstrates the Industry’s commitment to join forces and recognize that we have a responsibility that includes the economic, environmental and social aspects, and which starts with the cocoa farmer in origin and continues all the way to the consumption of the final chocolate product,” Transmar President Peter G Johnson said. “We are therefore happy to stand alongside other Cocoa Industry members and sign the Declaration. The Industry has a responsibility collectively, just like we as individual companies have a responsibility, to do our best to cultivate a more sustainable supply chain.”
The Abidjan Cocoa Declaration, which recommends specific and measurable actions to achieve a sustainable cocoa economy, reflects the more detailed proposals of the Global Cocoa Agenda. The important issues highlighted by the Agenda formed the basis of many of the presentations, discussions and panel sessions that took place at the World Cocoa Conference.
The Declaration is the first step in an ongoing process aimed at creating a sustainable future for the cocoa sector and helping to ensure that its benefits are shared along the entire chain, starting with the growers. Another World Cocoa Conference, planned for 2014 in the Netherlands, is to monitor and review the progress being made to deal with the issues outlined by the Declaration and the Agenda.
The texts of both the Abidjan Cocoa Declaration and the Global Cocoa Agenda, as well as most of the presentations that were delivered at the World Cocoa Conference, can be downloaded here.
The other signatories to the Abidjan Cocoa Declaration are: Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Indonesia, Cameroon, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ecuador, Togo, Papua New Guinea, Mars, Mondelez International, Nestlé, Blommer Chocolate, CEMOI, Ferrero Trading, Armajaro Trading Ltd, ADM, Barry Callebaut, Cargill, Petra Foods, Amtrada/Continaf, Noble Group, Olam International / Outspan Ivoire, Touton, Federation of Cocoa Commerce, CAOBISCO, World Cocoa Foundation, IDH (Dutch Sustainable Agriculture Initiative), ECA (European Cocoa Association), ACP (The Africa, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States), Talents (farmer), ICI (International Cocoa Initiative) and HCCO (Hamburg Cocoa & Commodity Office GmbH).
The Declaration remains open, and all cocoa stakeholder organizations are urged to sign it.
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Hershey signs the Abidjan Cocoa Declaration
Vice President Global Commodities Frank G. Day signed the ground-breaking Declaration in late February on behalf of The Hershey Company, which has headquarters in Hershey, Pennsylvania. The company—the largest producer of chocolate in North America—has about 14,000 employees and annual revenues of over $6 billion. Hershey’s sustainability projects include a $10 million investment in West African origins over the next five years, with activities such as expanding its programmes to improve cocoa communities and to further develop farmer outreach.
Hershey is one of the Declaration’s latest stakeholder signatories, which range from cocoa growers through their governments to civil society and most of the world’s largest manufacturers of chocolate. The international stakeholders began signing the Declaration at a special ceremony during the first World Cocoa Conference in Abidjan in November.
The Abidjan Cocoa Declaration, which recommends specific and measurable actions to achieve a sustainable cocoa economy, reflects the more detailed proposals of the Global Cocoa Agenda. The important issues highlighted by the Agenda formed the basis of many of the presentations, discussions and panel sessions that took place at the World Cocoa Conference.
The Declaration is the first step in an ongoing process aimed at creating a sustainable future for the cocoa sector and helping to ensure that its benefits are shared along the entire chain, starting with the growers. Another World Cocoa Conference, planned for 2014 in Amsterdam, is to monitor and review the progress being made to deal with the issues outlined by the Declaration and the Agenda.
The texts of both the Abidjan Cocoa Declaration and the Global Cocoa Agenda, as well as most of the presentations that were delivered at the World Cocoa Conference, can be downloaded here.
The other signatories to the Abidjan Cocoa Declaration are: Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Indonesia, Cameroon, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ecuador, Togo, Papua New Guinea, Mars, Mondelēz International, Nestlé, Blommer Chocolate, CEMOI, Ferrero Trading, Armajaro Trading Ltd, ADM, Barry Callebaut, Cargill, Petra Foods, Amtrada/Continaf, Noble Group, Olam International / Outspan Ivoire, Touton, Transmar Group, Federation of Cocoa Commerce, CAOBISCO, World Cocoa Foundation, IDH (Dutch Sustainable Agriculture Initiative), ECA (European Cocoa Association), ACP (The Africa, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States), Talents (farmer), ICI (International Cocoa Initiative) and HCCO (Hamburg Cocoa & Commodity Office GmbH).
The Declaration remains open, and all cocoa stakeholders are urged to sign it.
Pictured: Hershey’s Vice President Global Commodities Frank G. Day signs the Abidjan Cocoa Declaration.
International Cocoa Certification Workshop details announced
London, 1 May 2013–Arrangements for the ICCO’s International Workshop on Cocoa Certification, scheduled for 24 – 27 June in Yaoundé, Cameroon are well advanced, with a strong speaker list from across the grower sector, the trade and industry set to discuss the controversial topic in all its aspects, the ICCO announced today.
Cocoa certification has been at the centre of intense debate in the international cocoa community ever since the subject was first introduced. From its initial perception as a niche market only five years ago, the share of Organic, Fairtrade, Rainforest Alliance and UTZ certified cocoa has surged to well over 10% of the market currently. The cocoa and chocolate industry is under increasing pressure to demonstrate to consumers that the raw materials used in the manufacture chocolate comply with specific ethical and sustainability requirements.
This challenge is further exacerbated by the fact that certification is often perceived as a consumer-driven process, leading to doubts among many cocoa producers and their governments in relation to its benefits as far as they are concerned. In particular, an ICCO study in 2012 showed that the net direct monetary benefits may be rather limited in the short to medium term. In addition, the co-existence of multiple standards in the sector has led to confusion among the parties involved in the various cocoa producing countries.
Dr Jean-Marc Anga, Executive Director of the ICCO, stated that “With Mars, Ferrero and Hershey committing to source 100% of their cocoa by 2020 as certified and with Nestlé and Mondelēz also making strong commitments in this respect, this represents a considerable challenge for the whole industry, as these five leading companies represent about 40% of global cocoa usage. Most importantly, while certification as it is may help, getting cocoa farmers to trade their way out of poverty has to be the priority and a pre-condition for cocoa to be sustainable. Given the complexity of the cocoa value chain, all key stakeholders have to work together with this objective!”
In view of this, the Workshop, organized in collaboration with United Nations Forum on Sustainable Standards (UNFSS), aims to bring together all stakeholders involved in cocoa certification, with the aim of building consensus on the best ways to supplement and improve upon existing certification schemes, for the benefit of cocoa farmers–a necessary condition for the long-term viability of this process.
Participants will also benefit from the experience gathered from other commodities and other fora on this matter, in particular through the collaboration with the UNFSS, which was set up to discuss developing country concerns on private sustainability standards: pooling resources, synchronizing efforts and assuring policy coherence, coordination and collaboration among UN agencies the FAO, ITC, UNCTAD, UNEP and UNIDO.
The ICCO International Workshop on Cocoa Certification is to be based at the Hotel Mont-Fébé in Yaoundé, Cameroon, 24 -27 June. Details of the programme, as well as a registration form, hotel, travel and visa information are available by clicking here.
Trader and processor Transmar Group signs the Abidjan Cocoa Declaration
LONDON, 24 April 2013—International trader and processor Transmar Group on 15 April became latest cocoa stakeholder to sign the Abidjan Cocoa Declaration, joining well over 30 other organizations in support of the recommendations that arose out of the World Cocoa Conference in Abidjan last November.
Transmar Group President Peter G. Johnson signed the Declaration on behalf of the family-owned company, founded in the US in 1980 as a trading house. Transmar has since expanded into an integrated service provider with processing factories in Europe, Latin America and North America, as well as sales offices and representation globally. The group has been steadily increasing its commitment to promoting sustainable farming practices through industry initiatives and privately managed partnerships in Ecuador, Sierra Leone and Tanzania among other places.
Transmar joins some of the most important cocoa sector stakeholders, ranging from cocoa growers through their governments to civil society and most of the world’s largest manufacturers of chocolate, who began the signing of the ground-breaking agreement during the World Cocoa Conference.
“The Abidjan Cocoa Declaration demonstrates the Industry’s commitment to join forces and recognize that we have a responsibility that includes the economic, environmental and social aspects, and which starts with the cocoa farmer in origin and continues all the way to the consumption of the final chocolate product,” Transmar President Peter G Johnson said. “We are therefore happy to stand alongside other Cocoa Industry members and sign the Declaration. The Industry has a responsibility collectively, just like we as individual companies have a responsibility, to do our best to cultivate a more sustainable supply chain.”
The Abidjan Cocoa Declaration, which recommends specific and measurable actions to achieve a sustainable cocoa economy, reflects the more detailed proposals of the Global Cocoa Agenda. The important issues highlighted by the Agenda formed the basis of many of the presentations, discussions and panel sessions that took place at the World Cocoa Conference.
The Declaration is the first step in an ongoing process aimed at creating a sustainable future for the cocoa sector and helping to ensure that its benefits are shared along the entire chain, starting with the growers. Another World Cocoa Conference, planned for 2014 in the Netherlands, is to monitor and review the progress being made to deal with the issues outlined by the Declaration and the Agenda.
The texts of both the Abidjan Cocoa Declaration and the Global Cocoa Agenda, as well as most of the presentations that were delivered at the World Cocoa Conference, can be downloaded here.
The other signatories to the Abidjan Cocoa Declaration are: Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Indonesia, Cameroon, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ecuador, Togo, Papua New Guinea, Mars, Mondelez International, Nestlé, Blommer Chocolate, CEMOI, Ferrero Trading, Armajaro Trading Ltd, ADM, Barry Callebaut, Cargill, Petra Foods, Amtrada/Continaf, Noble Group, Olam International / Outspan Ivoire, Touton, Federation of Cocoa Commerce, CAOBISCO, World Cocoa Foundation, IDH (Dutch Sustainable Agriculture Initiative), ECA (European Cocoa Association), ACP (The Africa, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States), Talents (farmer), ICI (International Cocoa Initiative) and HCCO (Hamburg Cocoa & Commodity Office GmbH).
The Declaration remains open, and all cocoa stakeholder organizations are urged to sign it.
Pests and Pathogens project workshop set for 15-18 April in Accra
LONDON, 25 March 2013–The ICCO’s Integrated Management of Pests and Pathogens project, announced in February, is to hold its inception workshop at the Oak Plaza Hotel in Accra, Ghana, 15 – 18 April.
The project, organized in conjunction with the Ghana Cocoa Board and the Common Fund for Commodities, is being supported by two of the world’s largest chocolate makers, Mars and Mondelez International, as well as the European Cocoa Association.
The US$3.2 million project aims to tackle the cocoa pests and diseases that are the main challenges to sustainable cocoa economy.
The four-day workshop is free of charge, and open to all interested parties. Pre-registration is not required.
Full details of the background to the meeting and the draft programme are available here: Pests and Pathogens Workshop April 2013 Accra–Background and Programme
Click here to see the initial news report on the project, with more details.
ICCO announces International Workshop on Cocoa Certification in June
21 March 2013, Kuta, Bali, Indonesia–The International Cocoa Organization is to organize an International Workshop on Cocoa Certification in Douala, Cameroon, 24 – 27 June 2013, the ICCO announced today.
The Workshop, to be organized in conjunction with the Ministry of Commerce of Cameroon and the Office National du Café et du Cacao, and supported by the Dutch Sustainable Trade Initiative IDH, aims to bring together all stakeholders to build consensus on certification and improve on existing certification schemes.
Schemes including Fairtrade, Rainforest Alliance, Utz and organic currently hold about 15% of the world cocoa market, but there is still great uncertainty as to whether certification provides a clear benefit to cocoa farmers. Following on from an ICCO-commissioned study on cocoa certification that was published in 2012, the Workshop intends to give both sides of the certification argument the chance to put their cases and to find ways to narrow the differences between them.
The recommendations from the Workshop will form the basis for implementing certification so that it yields an improvement in the livelihoods of cocoa farmers.
The Workshop is directed at farmers, cooperative members, key officials from relevant government departments of producing and consuming countries, executives from chocolate and cocoa companies, and representatives from certification bodies, civil society and research organizations.
NB: Please note the venue change! The Workshop will now take place in the Hotel Sawa in Douala
More details, including the subjects likely to be discussed at the Workshop, are available by downloading the official announcement of the Workshop here.
Download: Study on the costs, advantages and disadvantages of cocoa certification--October 2012 Download: Étude sur les coûts, les avantages et les désavantages de la certification du cacao -- Octobre 2012Indonesia signs the Abidjan Cocoa Declaration in Bali
Indonesian Agriculture Minister Dr H Suswono used the occasion of the 87th meetings of the International Cocoa Council, to sign the Declaration, making Indonesia the 32nd stakeholder to do so. The Council and subsidiary body meetings are being hosted this week in Bali by the government of Indonesia.
Indonesia joins stakeholders ranging from cocoa growers through their governments to civil society and most of the world’s largest manufacturers of chocolate, all of whom began the signing of the ground-breaking agreement at a special ceremony during the World Cocoa Conference in Abidjan in November. The Declaration remains open to allow more cocoa stakeholder organizations to sign it.
The Abidjan Cocoa Declaration, which recommends specific and measurable actions to achieve a sustainable cocoa economy, reflects the more detailed proposals of the Global Cocoa Agenda. The important issues highlighted by the Agenda formed the basis of many of the presentations, discussions and panel sessions that took place at the World Cocoa Conference.
The Declaration is to be the first step in an ongoing process aimed at creating a sustainable future for the cocoa sector and helping to ensure that its benefits are shared along the entire chain, starting with the growers. Another World Cocoa Conference is planned in 2014 to monitor and review the progress made dealing with the issues outlined by the Declaration and the Agenda.
The texts of both the Abidjan Cocoa Declaration and the Global Cocoa Agenda, as well as most of the presentations that were delivered at the World Cocoa Conference, can be downloaded here.
The previous signatories to the Abidjan Cocoa Declaration were: Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Cameroon, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ecuador, Togo, Papua New Guinea, Mars, Mondelez International, Nestlé, Petra Foods, Armajaro Trading Ltd, Barry Callebaut, Cargill, Ferrero Trading, Federation of Cocoa Commerce, Touton, ADM, CAOBISCO, World Cocoa Foundation, IDH (Dutch Sustainable Agriculture Initiative), ECA (European Cocoa Association), Olam International / Outspan Ivoire, ACP (The Africa, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States), Talents (farmer), Amtrada/Continaf, CEMOI, ICI (International Cocoa Initiative), HCCO (Hamburg Cocoa & Commodity Office GmbH), Noble Group and Blommer Chocolate.
February 2013 Quarterly Bulletin of Cocoa Statistics
28 February 2013–The International Cocoa Organization today released its first forecasts for the 2012/2013 cocoa year and revised estimates of world production, grindings and stocks of cocoa beans for 2011/2012, summarized below. The data published in Issue No. 1 – Volume XXXIX – Cocoa year 2012/2013 of the Quarterly Bulletin of Cocoa Statistics reflect the most recent information available to the Secretariat as at the middle of February 2013.
Summary of forecasts and revised estimates
(Oct-Sep)
Notes:
a/ Estimates published in Quarterly Bulletin of Cocoa Statistics, Vol. XXXVIII – No. 4 – Cocoa year 2011/2012
b/ Surplus/deficit: current net world crop (gross crop adjusted for loss in weight) minus grindings
Totals and differences 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 2008/2009 to 2010/2011 and quarterly statistics for the period October-December 2010 to April-June 2012. Details of origin of imports and destination of exports for leading cocoa importing countries are also provided. Historical statistics on cocoa trade and consumption, by country and by region, for the period 2002/2003 to 2010/2011 are presented for reference.
Copies of the Quarterly Bulletin of Cocoa Statistics, including in Microsoft Excel files and in Adobe PDF format, can be ordered from the website or from the ICCO Secretariat at the address below:
International Cocoa Organization
Commonwealth House
1-19 New Oxford Street
London WC1A 1NU, UK
Tel: +44 (0)20 7400 5050
Fax: +44 (0)20 7421 5500
E-mail: registry@icco.org or info@icco.org
Top North American processor Blommer signs Abidjan Cocoa Declaration
LONDON, 22 February 2013—Blommer Chocolate Company, the largest cocoa processor and ingredient chocolate supplier in North America, has become the latest cocoa stakeholder to sign the Abidjan Cocoa Declaration, the ICCO revealed today.
President and Chief Operating Officer Peter Blommer signed the Declaration on 20 February on behalf of the Chicago-based family-owned company, which was founded in 1939, and has four North American plants, employing 650. Blommer’s activities aimed at advancing its cocoa sustainability agenda include privately managed programmes promoting sustainable farming in Côte d’Ivoire, Ecuador and Indonesia.
Blommer joins 30 other cocoa sector stakeholders–ranging from cocoa growers through their governments to civil society and most of the world’s largest manufacturers of chocolate–who began the signing of the ground-breaking agreement at a special ceremony during the World Cocoa Conference in Abidjan in November. The Declaration remains open to allow more cocoa stakeholder organizations to sign it.
The Abidjan Cocoa Declaration, which recommends specific and measurable actions to achieve a sustainable cocoa economy, reflects the more detailed proposals of the Global Cocoa Agenda. The important issues highlighted by the Agenda formed the basis of many of the presentations, discussions and panel sessions that took place at the World Cocoa Conference.
The Declaration is to be the first step in an ongoing process aimed at creating a sustainable future for the cocoa sector and helping to ensure that its benefits are shared along the entire chain, starting with the growers. Another World Cocoa Conference is planned in 2014 to monitor and review the progress made dealing with the issues outlined by the Declaration and the Agenda.
The texts of both the Abidjan Cocoa Declaration and the Global Cocoa Agenda, as well as most of the presentations that were delivered at the World Cocoa Conference, can be downloaded here.
The previous signatories to the Abidjan Cocoa Declaration were: Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Cameroon, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ecuador, Togo, Papua New Guinea, Mars, Mondelez International, Nestlé, Petra Foods, Armajaro Trading Ltd, Barry Callebaut, Cargill, Ferrero Trading, Federation of Cocoa Commerce, Touton, ADM, CAOBISCO, World Cocoa Foundation, IDH (Dutch Sustainable Agriculture Initiative), ECA (European Cocoa Association), Olam International / Outspan Ivoire, ACP (The Africa, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States), Talents (farmer), Amtrada/Continaf, CEMOI, ICI (International Cocoa Initiative), HCCO (Hamburg Cocoa & Commodity Office GmbH) and Noble Group.
ICCO partners with CFC and industry in project to cut African cocoa losses
LONDON, 14 February 2013–The ICCO is to lead a new initiative to tackle cocoa pests and diseases in West Africa, in partnership with the Common Fund for Commodities (CFC), the European Cocoa Association (ECA), the world’s two leading chocolate manufacturers, Mars and Mondelez International, and other companies expected to get involved.
The project, which will be launched in April, aims to tackle the cocoa pests and diseases that are the main challenges to sustainable cocoa economy. Together, they account for more than 40% of global crop losses in cocoa production, and result in reduced income for cocoa farmers. The “Integrated Management of Cocoa Pests and Pathogens in Africa” project is a US$3.2 million initiative that will address this issue in Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Nigeria and Togo, the source of 70% (about 2.8 million tonnes) of global cocoa production.
With the Cocoa Research Institute of Ghana (CRIG) coordinating activities on the ground, the project aims to gather forces and expertise in this region, building on past and existing initiatives in these countries, with the active support of the cocoa and chocolate industry, in order to improve the productivity on cocoa farms by reducing losses to indigenous cocoa pests and diseases. In addition, the project will strengthen in-country and regional capacity for improved pest surveillance for prevention of spread, early detection, eradication and continued management of existing and invasive pests and pathogens.
Among the major indigenous cocoa pests and diseases to be targeted by the project are those that cause significant crop losses in Africa: Mirids; Sting bugs; Stem borers; Black pod and Cocoa Swollen Shoot Virus (CSSV). Also to be addressed is the recent emergence of parasitic plants such as mistletoes and epiphytes, which also threaten West African cocoa production.
Particular attention will be given to CSSV, as new outbreaks in Côte d’Ivoire are casting doubt over the future of production in a country that supplies almost 40% of the world’s cocoa. The viral disease is one of the most intractable and destructive to strike the cocoa industry in West Africa, and it has similar effects to witches’ broom disease, which cut cocoa production in Brazil by over 50% in the 1990s.
The initiative will be launched with a workshop bringing together research institutions and the industry, which is scheduled to be held in Accra, Ghana in April.
International Cocoa Council and subsidiary bodies, 18-22 March 2013, Bali, Indonesia
The International Cocoa Council and subsidiary bodies, including the new Economics and Administration and Finance Committees, created under the terms of the 2010 International Cocoa Agreement , will meet in Bali, Indonesia 18 – 22 March 2013.
Members planning to attend the meetings in Bali should see details of the logistical arrangements, including reservations at the the venue hotel, in the document ED(MEM) 949.
Those in producing member nations wishing to obtain Indonesian visas should consult the list of embassies and consulates here.
Details of the venue and accommodation at the Discovery Kartika Plaza Hotel can be downloaded here. Rooms at the adjacent Discovery Kartika Plaza Hotel can be downloaded here can be reserved by completing the form and emailing it to the hotel.
Provisional Timetable of Meetings, 18-22 March 2013, Bali, Indonesia
International Cocoa Council: Draft Agenda
Administration and Finance Committee: Draft Agenda
Economics Committee: Draft Agenda
The next meeting of the Consultative Board on the World Cocoa Economy, and the second meeting of the Expert Working Group on Food Safety, Cocoa Productivity and Quality are now scheduled to be held in London, 28-29 May, 2013.
The next meeting of the Ad Hoc Panel on Fine/Flavour Cocoa is scheduled for 30 May 2013 in London.