World Cocoa Foundation Research Update: July 2007
CACAONET: The following is from Jan Engels, e-mail j.engels@cgiar.org. The Conservation Strategy Working Group (CSWG) of CacaoNet is the proposed name for the global technical working group of specialists to oversee the preparation of the draft global conservation strategy of cacao genetic resources for consideration by the CacaoNet Steering Committee. The Committee represents the interests of conservationists, germplasm users, and the research community. Its membership consists of representation from international/ regional/national public and private sector stakeholders; representatives from relevant scientific disciplines; and should have an adequate geographical representation. The CSWG is concerned with critical issues facing the global cacao genetic resources conservation and related use aspects, including research and policy matters. The development of a strategy for establishment and subsequent operation of the global cacao genetic resources collection of public domain material will be the most important objective of the Committee. The roles and relationships of the national collections vis-à-vis the global collection, the latter possibly being managed as a “virtual genebank collection”, will have to be addressed as well.
RESEARCH AT WEB SITES: Forest and Landscape Denmark announces their latest Development Newsletter with information on projects and publications within the Development and Environment Programme, including the Collaborative Effort on Cocoa Agroforestry in West and Central Africa. The project is carried out in cooperation with the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, the Sustainable Tree Crops Program – STCP Regional Office, Ghana and the World Cocoa Foundation. Living conditions, environment and health concerns are addressed in the developing countries. Download the newsletter or e-mail SL-International@life.ku.dk. It is possible to sign up for publications electronically from their homepage.
From NutraIngredients.com: Americans want exciting chocolate, says survey. By staff reporter 7/9/2007- Americans are developing a taste for more sophisticated chocolate products, according to a new survey by Barry Callebaut, which finds that consumers are increasingly experimenting with different varieties. While regular favorites remain the most popular choices, with almost 80 percent of Americans opting for milk, dark or white chocolate, consumers have started letting out feelers to explore other chocolate varieties, says the survey. The findings reveal that the chocolate industry is no exception to a general consumer move towards new, more 'exotic' products, pointing once more to the importance of innovation from manufacturers. Almost a quarter of Americans also say they buy sugar-free chocolate, and 15 percent report having consumed fairtrade chocolate. Around four in ten consumers say they would buy chocolate that promises health benefits, and almost half of those surveyed said they'd be willing to pay the extra price for 'health enhancing chocolate'. Full article.
Future of cocoa prices uncertain, says ICCO. By Karen Willmer 7/6/2007- Cocoa prices in June reached their highest levels since 2003, according to the monthly review by the International Cocoa Organisation (ICCO). The ICCO daily price averaged $2,017 (€1484) per tonne, up by $12 (€8.8) on May's monthly average, and ranged between $1,923 (€1415) and $2,143 (€1,576) per tonne. The report said the high prices were due to the uncertain outlook for the cocoa market due to recent supply problems, causing prices to reach their highest since 2003, and increasing costs for processors. "Market participants were still focusing on the situation of the 2006/07 cocoa season with its large production deficit and below than usual forward price coverage held by cocoa processors and chocolate manufacturers." Full article.
From Webmd.com. Dark Chocolate May Help Blood Pressure. Eating 30 Calories Per Day of Dark Chocolate May Lower High Blood Pressure. By Miranda Hitti , WebMD Medical News. July 3, 2007 -- The health benefits of dark chocolate may include lowering high blood pressure, German researchers report. But overindulging in dark chocolate might blow your calorie budget, and packing on pounds could raise blood pressure. So portion control may help you have your dark chocolate and reap its health benefits, the new study suggests. Small amounts of dark chocolate "efficiently reduced blood pressure," report the researchers, who included Dirk Taubert, MD, PhD, of Germany's University Hospital of Cologne. How small is a small amount of dark chocolate? Participants in Taubert's study were limited to 30 calories per day of dark chocolate. That's roughly the number of calories in a Hershey's Kiss. The study, published in The Journal of the American Medical Association, doesn't promise that dark chocolate is all that's needed to beat blood pressure. A healthy diet, exercise, and losing excess weight are important for lowering high blood pressure. But eating a small amountof dark chocolate daily is a dietary change that's "easy to adhere to," the researchers note. Full article.