The 12^th World Cocoa Foundation Partnership Meeting was held in Washington, DC October 24-25.  Through a variety of panel sessions and workshops, participants explored the theme of "Sustainable Cocoa Farming:  Building Tomorrow's Best Practices Today".  Presentations are available for download on the WCF website.

 

 

Representatives from the three leading cocoa producing countries presented their country roadmaps for cocoa sustainability. Dr. René Kossa of the Côte d'Ivoire Ministry of Agriculture, Mr. Tony Fofie of the Ghana Cocoa Board, and Mr. Darmawan Djajusman of the Indonesia Investment Coordinating Board discussed their countries' plans and reached similar conclusions as to the sector's needs for further development. Common goals for all three countries include: increasing the yield per hectare to at least 1,000/1,500 kg; developing research on higher yielding and disease resistant strains; extending Farmer Field School training; channeling better prices to farmers; improving education and health care in farming communities; and, controlling diseases and pests.

 

Dr. Lyndel Meinhardt of the US Department of Agriculture moderated a panel discussion which sought to review current research activities, define priorities, and identify gaps.  The panel included four distinguished researchers representing a producing country research institute, the private sector, US government research, and an agriculture development program.  Dr. Yaw Adu-Ampomah of the Cocoa Research Institute of Ghana, Dr. Martin Gilmour of  Mars Incorporated, Dr. Eric Rosenquist of the US Department of Agriculture and Dr. Stephan Weise of the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture/Sustainable Tree Crops Program each provided valuable commentary as panelists, and the audience made significant contributions to the discussion.  As a result of the panel, three main priorities were identified: 1) capacity building/regional cooperation/technology transfer; 2) control of diseases and pests, especially frosty pod rot and black pod; 3) improve genetic resources/collections and soil fertility.  Researchers had the opportunity to further discuss these areas at a Cacao Research Strategy Roundtable discussion held the following day.

 

Dr. Chris Okafor of the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture / Sustainable Tree Crops Program Nigeria was presented the 2007 Cocoa Sustainability Award by WCF Executive Committee Member Dr. Clive Barnes of Nestlé. 

Dr. Okafor was recognized for his work as the Sustainable Tree Crops Program's country manager for Nigeria.  In this role, Dr. Okafor has worked closely with the National Cocoa Development Committee as the Committee decided to adopt the Farmer Field School approach as the official extension delivery mechanism.  This decision is a significant step towards the long term sustainability of the farmer training component of the Sustainable Tree Crops Program.  Congratulations to Dr. Okafor and the Sustainable Tree Crops Program Nigeria.