Chocolate And Sustainable Cocoa Farming

Chocolate is consumed by people of all ages in all segments of society throughout the world. However, recent changes in legislative frameworks, environmental concerns and increasing attention towards sustainability have stimulated the chocolate industry to reconsider their management policy. Current books in the market cover chocolate manufacture without taking into account sustainable practices of production, consumption and market aspects. Trends in Sustainable Chocolate Production fills this knowledge gap by covering all the important aspects of chocolate industry (manufacture, functionality, sustainability of the supply chain, commercialization aspects and market characteristics) in one reference. Starting with the health outcomes of chocolate and an overview of its manufacture, the book explores techniques to improve the functionality, flavor and microstructure of chocolate, as well as its environmental impact through sustainable practices and supply chains. By connecting research to industry and consumer interests, this text aims to support members of the scientific community, professionals and enterprises working to develop a sustainable chocolate sector.

Almost five million tonnes of cocoa produced annually drives the US$100 billion global chocolate industry. To sustain the industry, cacao planting materials (seeds and clones) have been successfully moved from the Amazon forests in America to the humid tropical forests of Africa, Asia, and Australia. In more than 150 years of commercial cacao cultivation, smallholder farmers that supply the bulk of cocoa beans still face several production constraints that impede their efficiency. Scientific technologies have therefore been deployed to remove these constraints by ensuring a continuous supply of good quality cocoa beans to meet growing global demand. This book provides insight into these scientific advances to address these current and emerging problems and to assure the sustainability of the global cocoa industry.

Seminar paper from the year 2011 in the subject Business economics - Supply, Production, Logistics, grade: 1,0, Leipzig Graduate School of Management, course: Logistik, language: English, abstract: Sustainability has become a significant issue in many companies as it affects their reputation among customers. At the same time, outsourcing and globalization have resulted in the spreading out of supply chains across continents. Therefore, the focus of implementing sustainability has shifted from the single organization to the entire supply chain. This is of particular importance for chocolate manufacturers with their multinational supply chains as they are held responsible by the public for any irregularities which happen in their supply chain. Chocolate brand owners have been confronted with increasing criticism and pressure from politics and public due to the lack of sustainability in their supply chain. A current example is the TV documentary "Schmutzige Schokolade", a film about child labor on cocoa farms in Ivory Coast, for which the Danish filmmaker Miki Mistrati blames the chocolate manufacturers. The film, which was broadcasted on ARD on October, 6th, 2010, at 11:30p.m., has been sold altogether to 18 countries and was consequently watched by several million television viewers. This paper focuses on Sustainable Supply Chain Management in the chocolate industry. The following chapter contains a short theoretical introduction to the topic. It then focuses on giving an overview of the European, and there specifically on the German chocolate industry. Furthermore, it puts focus on the raw material cocoa from Ivory Coast, as cocoa butter and cocoa powder are among the main ingredients of chocolate and Ivory Coast is the world's largest cocoa producer country. The last two chapters include the description of the importance, weak points, challenges and possible concepts of Sustainable Supply Chain Management for cocoa. The paper finishes with a summary and an outl

This second edition includes an updated bibliography.Astley's signature is a highly allusive, layered and self-conscious prose style, non-linear and open-ended (Gillian Whitlock, JASAL: Journal of Association for the Study of Australian Literature, 6, 2007, p. 154.)The essays offer insights into issues of language, art, gender and religion ... as well as Astley's evolving body of writing and the historical and literary context of her work (Lyn Jacobs, Australian Literary Studies v.23, n.3, 2008, p.358).

This publication examines the vertical and horizontal integration in the cocoa industry and its potential impacts on stakeholders along the value chain, in particular small cocoa farmers who constitute the backbone of cocoa production worldwide. It contends that the concentration pattern observed at all segments of cocoa GVC may have contributed to a high level of efficiency, but could become problematic, in particular if it fosters oligopsonic/monopsonic or monopolistic/oligopolistic behaviour in the industry with detrimental effects for small players. It also discusses the extent of integration of cocoa farmers into international markets by assessing the transmission of international cocoa prices to the domestic prices paid to farmers. The results suggest that transmission has increased with trade liberalizing reforms undertaken by cocoa producing countries, but, overall, the outcomes are mixed, so far. The reforms have increased the exposure of farmers to the vagaries of international markets, but they are not associated with a significant, if any, increase in the share of world prices of cocoa accruing to farmers. In order to make cocoa cultivation a more viable source of livelihoods for farmers, and ensure a sustainable global cocoa economy, it would be essential for governments and other stakeholders to implement policies that enable cocoa farmers to increase their incomes. The publication is useful for governments of cocoa producing countries, development practitioners, including agricultural economists and the private sector, with an interest in empowering farmers, and in the development of a sustainable cocoa economy. Ultimately, it should make an invaluable contribution to the debate on how to reduce poverty, and attain the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) with their commitment to ''leave no on behind'', especially in cocoa farming communities.

One of the largest food commodities exported from the developing countries to the rest of the world, cocoa has gained increasing attention on the global market—raising many questions about its quality, sustainability and traceability. Cocoa Production and Processing Technology presents detailed explanations of the technologies that could be employed to assure sustainable production of high-quality and safe cocoa beans for the global confectionary industry. It provides overviews of up-to-date technologies and approaches to modern cocoa production practices, global production and consumption trends as well as principles of cocoa processing and chocolate manufacture. The book covers the origin, history and taxonomy of cocoa, and examines the fairtrade and organic cocoa industries and their influence on smallholder farmers. The chapters provide in-depth coverage of cocoa cultivation, harvesting and post-harvest treatments with a focus on cocoa bean composition, genotypic variations and their influence on quality, post-harvest pre-treatments, fermentation techniques, drying, storage and transportation. The author provides details on cocoa fermentation processes as well as the biochemical and microbiological changes involved and how they influence flavour. He also addresses cocoa trading systems, bean selection and quality criteria, as well as industrial processing of fermented and dried cocoa beans into liquor, cake, butter and powder. The book examines the general principles of chocolate manufacture, detailing the various stages of the processes involved, the factors that influence the quality characteristics and strategies to avoid post-processing quality defects. This volume presents innovative techniques for sustainability and traceability in high-quality cocoa production and explores new product development with potential for cost reduction as well as improved cocoa bean and chocolate product quality.

"Royal Tropical Institute, KIT Development Policy & Practice."