CHOCOLATIERS GAIN INSIGHTS INTO GHANA’S COCOA SECTOR AT COCOA ORIGIN MASTERCLASS

Date: 28th June 2024

Chocolatiers and instructors participating in the inaugural Cocoa Origin Masterclass programme made their second visit to the Cocoa House in Accra. This visit aimed to deepen their understanding of Ghana’s current cocoa trading strategies and efforts to enhance cultivation standards, ensuring sustainability while generating more value for farmers.

Organised by Cocoa Masterclass in collaboration with Three Mountains Cocoa, the Cocoa Origin Masterclass offers an immersive experience for chocolatiers worldwide. Participants explore the intricacies of Ghana’s cocoa industry, renowned for its high-quality and flavourful cocoa beans. The year's programme attracted participants from the United Kingdom, the United States, India, Brazil, and Ghana.

At the Cocoa House, chocolatiers engaged with experts from the marketing department of the Cocoa Marketing Company (CMC) and the research department of the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) to gain insights into the latest industry developments and initiatives.

During their engagement with CMC, participants were introduced to the mechanisms of cocoa trading, including the floor price determination process, market access, and the role of government policies in shaping the industry. The session highlighted the importance of the measures in place to support farmers and protect them from market volatility.

Additionally, participants were guided through the post-harvest quality control protocols that ensure cocoa beans meet purchase contract standards. These protocols include maintaining proper storage conditions to prevent moisture reabsorption, pest infestation, and mould growth, ensuring bean quality and flavour.

Emphasis was placed on maintaining the high standards and integrity of Ghanaian cocoa in the global market, fostering trust and satisfaction among international buyers. This ensures that Ghanaian cocoa remains competitive and highly sought after, benefiting farmers and the economy.

The research department, during the second session, delivered a presentation on the significant milestone accomplished by meticulously mapping out polygonal details of all cocoa farms in Ghana, as well as, the adoption of the African Regional Standard (ARS 1001) by Ghana as the national benchmark for sustainable and traceable cocoa production. These strategic steps are set to elevate cocoa cultivation standards within the country significantly.

The implementation of the ARS 1001 standard ensures adherence to rigorous certification criteria comparable to existing programmes like Fairtrade. It also integrates diverse jurisdictional trade requirements, including the European Union's EUDR, ensuring transparency and traceability along the supply chain.

Participants were enthusiastic about the insights they gained and the opportunities to apply them in their own practices. They also discussed potential collaborations between Ghana, chocolatiers, and craft chocolate makers worldwide to showcase the uniqueness of Ghana’s beans, their premium quality, and superior flavour. Such collaboration is seen as a potential avenue to derive fairer economic value from global consumers.