‘Cocoapolitics and Choconomics’, the main themes of Amsterdam’s Chocoa Conference

Amsterdam, the largest port for import, storage and processing of cocoa and ‘the cradle of innovation and sustainability initiatives’ becomes the focus of industry attention when the seventh edition of the Chocoa Conference opens Thursday (21) at the Beurs van Berlage.

The former stock exchange building will be a fitting venue for the largest conference to date with its main topics of ‘Choconomics and Cocoapolitics’.

Speakers include Michel Arrion (newly appointed executive director of ICCO); Cédric van Cutsem (Cocoa Life, Mondelez International); Filip Buggenhout (Cargill); Etelle Higonnet (Mighty Earth); Peter de Koning (Amsterdam Declaration); Juan Echanova (Care America), Oliver Nieburg (Lumina Intelligence.

The discussion at the conference will focus on the consequences for the cocoa sector of changing economic and political conditions on development and sustainability policies.

One of the questions put to delegates will be: ‘How can stakeholders from all parts of the value chain, and beyond, get together and join forces to realise the impact that was always sought for but never reached?’

Chocoa will also look at new topics such as farmer health and nutritional demands.

Organizer Jack Steijn said: "We cannot solve the problems in the cocoa and chocolate chain in one week, but it is clear that if we want to ensure lasting change in the cocoa supply chain, we need to collaborate more with other sectors. At Chocoa we are talking to everyone involved in the chocolate chain, from cocoa farmer to chocolate producer, about new solutions for old problems​. "

Ticket sales and more information at chocoa.nl​.