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"Towards FINE Flavor Beans & Cacao Grading Standards…"
"Will Vietnam rise to the challenge to attain ICCO star ranking?"
Accelerated global demand for fine or flavour cocoa is rising in tandem with desire for high quality chocolates. Worldwide major chocolate and confectionary manufacturers with premium products require fine or flavour cocoa from specific origin bean varieties to attain the distinctive taste and colour. Many new chocolate artisans are emerging as well, seeking even more demand for this cocoa variety type.
There is a huge price difference between fine flavour cocoa and conventional cocoa. Where the latter can be priced between $2,000 per MT to $2,800 per MT, fine cocoa niche can fetch up to $5,000 per MT with the high end ones commanding prices up to $10,000 per MT !!!
The Central American country Ecuador is currently the world leader for fine flavour cocoa beans. Regulated by the ICCO other producing countries with such status includes Papua New Guinea, Madagascar and Venezuela. What are ICCO’s ( International Cocoa Organisation ) criteria on assessing a country’s potential as fine flavor cocoa bean producer and what new efforts are established for full fine flavor cacao grading and standards system?
Last September 2015, the ICCO Ad Hoc Panel of Experts on Fine or Flavour Cocoa made a recommendation that Vietnam should be now considered as a fine or flavour cocoa origin. The recommendation will be reviewed by the ICCO Council at its next meeting to be held in the Dominican Republic in May 2016.
This will be revolutionary as it propels Vietnam to the status of fine or flavour cocoa exporter helping the country commercialize their cocoa and attract a price premium on the international market.
In a country where rice and coffee takes priority Vietnam is on the path to expand its cocoa production. With its ambitious incoming industrial cocoa plantations planned from 3500 MT (annually) to 50,000 MT in eight to ten years can Vietnam deliver? How will Vietnam rise to the challenge to be a major fine flavor producer?
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Other ASEAN member Indonesia as the world’s 3rd largest cocoa producer is keen to maintain its position. Indonesia is already classified as a fine or flavour origin but only 1% is considered as fine or flavour with cocoa produced from Java.
Cocoa bean output is expected to rise at least 5 percent this year; will the Jakarta government’s scheme to boost production help offset any damage to crops from the current El Nino-linked dry weather? Indonesia also faces quality concerns and lack of incentives for local farmers to boost the cocoa sector.
CMT’s 2nd Cocoa Revolution aims to answers these critical issues… Bringing together leading panel of authoritative industry speakers from markets to quality improvements, you can expect to learn and share effectively from this comprehensive summit.
Key highlights
- Do not miss - ICCO’s keynote speech on Global situation and prospects of the cocoa and chocolate markets - Current challenges and opportunities.
- Cocoa Fermentation R&D through industrial post harvest center: case study PGPV Vietnam
- Olam’s take on Asia Chocolate Demand and Key Trends
- Status of Cocoa’s Latin Future
- Managing cocoa quality in the post-harvest process
- Novel starter cultures for cocoa fermentation allow tuning of chocolate aroma
- Improving Yields to meet local demand – Indonesia’s Challenge
- Natural micro nutrients to improve cocoa yield and control black pod disease
- Tachibana’s new challenge for cacao beans marketing
- Putting India on the Cocoa Map
- Mars cocoa development journey in Vietnam
- Mondelez perspective on Sustainable sourcing of Cocoa – Stepping up to the challenge
- Cocoa quality, Cocoa of Excellence programme, and the newly founded efforts to establish a full fine flavor cacao grading and standards system
PLUS an optional tour to Puratos Grand-Place new cocoa fermentation facility and cocoa plantations in Ben Tre on the 9th of March.
Sign up now for group discounts. Contact huiyan at huiyan@cmtsp.com.sgfor more information. |
