“In developing our new Signature Origins products, we searched the cocoa-growing regions of the world to bring chefs chocolate with unique flavor profiles that truly stand apart from current gourmet offerings,” said Wim Bastiaens, Cargill’s gourmet and distribution director.

Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana, along with leading chocolate and cocoa companies, are releasing action plans to end deforestation in the cocoa sector and restore forest areas.

The Hershey Co. has launched the Cocoa For Good program, a comprehensive cocoa sustainability strategy designed to address the most pressing issues facing cocoa-growing communities: poverty, poor nutrition, at-risk youth and vulnerable ecosystems.

Cocoa producers, researchers, industry executives, government officials, and civil society organizations, gather to participate in these talks. The discussions will explore how chocolate manufacturing is influenced by cocoa quality standards, direct sourcing and the mapping of cocoa flavor characteristics.