Newsletter | May, 2004
More than 70 people attended the World Cocoa Foundation's bi-annual partnerships meeting in late April. Held in Brussels, the meeting attracted international cocoa researchers and development organizations, industry members, NGOs and child labor experts. Strategy sessions on the economic, environmental and social aspects of sustainable growing were held as well as sessions on coordinating worldwide research efforts.
WCF Member Spotlight
The first tenet of Hershey Foods Corporation's Corporate Philosophy is to "protect and enhance the corporation's high level of ethics and conduct." Hershey's strong support and involvement in the World Cocoa Foundation is a prime example of the company's commitment to this philosophy. Hershey is a founding member of the World Cocoa Foundation and WCF's current Chairman is John Long, Vice President of Public Affairs for the corporation. In closing the WCF Brussels' partnership meeting, Mr. Long noted that the WCF "is becoming one of the principal organizations devoted to implementing a sustainable supply of this important commodity in a way that benefits both growers and manufacturers." Mr. Long invited the cocoa and chocolate industry to take part in the Foundation's activities, adding that "it will take all of our best thinking" and "a sustainable partnership and commitment from us all if we are to have a transparent, accountable and above-reproach supply chain." Hershey Foods Corporation is the leading North American manufacturer of quality chocolates and non-chocolate confectionery and chocolate-related grocery products, and has a variety of international operations.
WCF Sponsors African Children's Book Awards
The World Cocoa Foundation was pleased to sponsor the African Children's Book Awards held at the Library of Congress in early May. Bill Guyton and Susan Smith attended the awards announcement. Many thanks to the Africa Society for making the opportunity possible.
WCF Participates in Kraft Workshop
Bill Guyton, WCF committee chairs John Lunde and Dave Stuart, and Holly Wise of USAID participated in a panel discussion at an Altria (Kraft) workshop in New York City. The panel discussed cocoa sustainability, public-private partnership advantages and child labor monitoring. Several other industries were also represented at the workshop including WCF member Dennis Macray of Starbucks Coffee Company.
Cocoa Calendar Updates
To view the latest WCF Cocoa Calendar of events, please visit the News and Events section on the WCF website.
WCF Welcomes New Board Members
The World Cocoa Foundation Board officially welcomed its new officers at the Partnership Meeting in Brussels in April. John Long (Hershey Foods Corporation), replaces Marty Andreas as Chairman of the organization. Roger Dehnel (MARS Inc.) and Clive Barnes (Nestle), will serve as Co-Chairs. Alain Fredericq (ADM), Peter Blommer (Blommer Chocolate Company), Ed Seguine (Guittard Chocolate Company) and Hans Rysgaard (International Confectionery Association) round out the Executive Committee. Committee Chairs include: West Africa, Dave Stuart (Hershey Foods) and Alain Fredericq; Southeast Asia, Roger Dehnel; Latin America, Ed Seguine; Partnerships and Outreach, John Lunde (MARS Inc.) and Hans Rysgaard and Communications, Sue d'Arcy (MARS Inc.)and Kirk Saville (Hershey Foods Corporation).
US-Africa Agribusiness Conference Nov. 7-10
The Corporate Council on Africa, of which WCF is a member, will host a US-Africa Agribusiness Conference November 7-10 in Monterey, CA. A major goal of the conference will be to establish an agribusiness task force under CCA which can help represent agribusiness on issues such as AGOA. WCF will be involved in the workshop on sustainable development in West Africa that will look at on-the-ground examples of sustainable development in the agribusiness sector. .
Asia
The SUCCESS Alliance will host its first regional conference in Makassar, Indonesia October 5-7. The general theme of the conference will be farmer training. The conference will include workshops as well as field visits. Check for more details in future newsletters.
West Africa
An agreement was signed in April between the WCF and the Danish Center for Forest and Landscape to support activities on enhancing the knowledge base on valuable trees in cocoa in West Africa. Specifically, the agreement will allow Richard Asare of the Danish Center to work with research and development activities. Mr. Asare will work in cooperation with STCP and will assist with training modules and extension materials to be used in farmer field school/ vocational education programs.
Latin America
WCF members Ed Seguine, Guittard Chocolate, and Roger Dehnel, Mars Inc., along with WCF staff and consultants Robert Peck, Bob Lumsden and BK Matlick, traveled to Ecuador in late April to discuss coordination among 3 projects the Foundation is involved with in that country. The projects include: cocoa rehabilitation, supported by USDA & WCF and implemented by INIAP and CIRAD; cocoa farmer training, supported by USDA and implemented by ARD; and the Sustainable Cocoa Program, supported by USDA & WCF and implemented by ACDI/VOCA. The meetings took place at Anacacao, an organization representing Ecuadorian cocoa farmers. The goal is to optimize resources and share common activities among the three projects.
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