2nd Cocoa Revolution,

09-11 Mar, 2016 - Ho Chi Minh City, VIETNAM

Novotel Saigon Centre

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OFFICIAL OPENING ADDRESS: 

Le Quoc Doanh, Deputy Minister

Ministry of Agriculture & Rural Development

 

ENDORSED & SUPPORTED BY

 

"Towards FINE Flavor Beans & Cacao Grading Standards…"

 

"Will Vietnam rise to the challenge to attain ICCO star ranking?"

Accelerated global demand for fine or flavour cocoa is rising in tandem with desire for high quality chocolates. Worldwide major chocolate and confectionary manufacturers with premium products require fine or flavour cocoa from specific origin bean varieties to attain the distinctive taste and colour. Many new chocolate artisans are emerging as well, seeking even more demand for this cocoa variety type.

 

There is a huge price difference between fine flavour cocoa and conventional cocoa. Where the latter  can be priced between $2,000 per MT to $2,800 per MT, fine cocoa niche can fetch up to $5,000 per MT with the high end ones commanding prices up to $10,000 per MT !!!

 

The Central American country Ecuador is currently the world leader for fine flavour cocoa beans. Regulated by the ICCO other producing countries with such status includes Papua New Guinea, Madagascar and Venezuela. What are ICCO’s ( International Cocoa Organisation ) criteria on assessing a country’s potential as fine flavor cocoa bean producer and what new efforts are established for full fine flavor cacao grading and standards system?

 

Last September 2015, the ICCO Ad Hoc Panel of Experts on Fine or Flavour Cocoa made a recommendation that Vietnam should be now considered as a fine or flavour cocoa origin.  The recommendation will be reviewed by the ICCO Council at its next meeting to be held in the Dominican Republic in May 2016.

 

This will be revolutionary as it propels Vietnam to the status of fine or flavour cocoa exporter helping the country commercialize their cocoa and attract a price premium on the international market.

 

In a country where rice and coffee takes priority Vietnam is on the path to expand its cocoa production. With its ambitious incoming industrial cocoa plantations planned from 3500 MT (annually) to 50,000 MT in eight to ten years can Vietnam deliver? How will Vietnam rise to the challenge to be a major fine flavor producer? 

Other ASEAN member Indonesia as the world’s 3rd largest cocoa producer is keen to maintain its position. Indonesia is already classified as a fine or flavour origin but only 1% is considered as fine or flavour with cocoa produced from Java. 

 

Cocoa bean output is expected to rise at least 5 percent this year; will the Jakarta government’s scheme to boost production help offset any damage to crops from the current El Nino-linked dry weather? Indonesia also faces quality concerns and lack of incentives for local farmers to boost the cocoa sector.

 

CMT’s 2nd Cocoa Revolution aims to answers these critical issues… Bringing together leading panel of authoritative industry speakers from markets to quality improvements, you can expect to learn and share effectively from this comprehensive summit.

 

Key highlights

  • Do not miss - ICCO’s keynote speech on Global situation and prospects of the cocoa and chocolate markets - Current challenges and opportunities.
  • Cocoa Fermentation R&D  through industrial post harvest center: case study PGPV  Vietnam     
  • Olam’s take on  Asia Chocolate Demand and Key Trends
  • Status of Cocoa’s Latin Future
  • Managing cocoa quality in the post-harvest process
  • Novel starter cultures for cocoa fermentation allow tuning of chocolate aroma
  • Improving Yields to meet local demand – Indonesia’s Challenge 
  • Natural micro nutrients to improve cocoa yield and control black pod disease
  • Tachibana’s new challenge for cacao beans marketing
  • Putting India on the Cocoa Map
  • Mars cocoa development journey in Vietnam
  • Mondelez perspective on Sustainable sourcing of Cocoa – Stepping up to the challenge
  • Cocoa quality,  Cocoa of Excellence programme, and the newly founded efforts to establish a full fine flavor cacao grading and standards system

PLUS an optional tour to Puratos Grand-Place new cocoa fermentation facility and cocoa plantations in Ben Tre on the 9th of March.

 

Sign up now for group discounts. Contact huiyan at huiyan@cmtsp.com.sgfor more information.

Welcome Letter in English | Welcome Letter in Vietnamese

 

SEPARATELY BOOKABLE (Open to Conference Attendees Only)

Site Visit to Cocoa Plantation in Ben Tre, Cocoa Fermentation & Drying Plant

9 March (0730 - 1600 hrs.)

Hosted by Puratos Grand Place

 

07:30

 

Gather at Novotel Saigon Centre Hotel

Bus leaves for Cocoa plantation in Ben Tre

09:30

Bus arrives BenTre plantation

11:00

Leave for Cocoa Fermentation & Drying Plant

12:30

Leave back to Hotel

13:00 - 14:00

Lunch on the way back

16:00

Arrive Novotel Saigon Hotel

 

Industry News   Be a Sponsor or Exhibitor!

Mars and Mondelēz to speak at Cocoa Revolution in Vietnam

 

State-owned plantations could rouse Vietnam’s cocoa industry

 

Barry Callebaut bets on Asia's sweet tooth

 

Barry Callebaut to set up Indonesia compound plant to supply biscuit maker GarudaFood

 

Barry Callebaut debuts first Cocoa Application Center in Asia Pacific

 

Chocolate heavyweights back Indonesian sustainable cocoa program

 

Mars Inc set to open first chocolate factory in India

 

Barry Callebaut targeting double-digit growth in China: CFO 

This event is an excellent platform to promote your organization to influential players and investors in the industry. Sponsorship opportunities available include Corporate, Exclusive luncheon & Cocktail sponsor.

 

Exhibition / catalogue display can be arranged upon request. Contact fiona@cmtsp.com.sg

Industry News

 

Netafim is the global leader in drip and micro-irrigation solutions for sustainable productivity. With 28 subsidiaries, 16 manufacturing plants and over 4,000 employees worldwide, Netafim delivers innovative solutions to more than 110 countries across the globe. Founded in 1965, Netafim pioneered the drip revolution, creating a paradigm shift toward low-flow agricultural irrigation.

 

Today Netafim is celebrating 50 Years of Shaping the Future, offering diverse irrigation solutions for agriculture, landscaping and mining. For large-scale and turnkey sugarcane, corn and greenhouse projects, Netafim delivers end-to-end engineering, project management and financing services accompanied by agronomic, technical and operational training and support. From drippers and dripper lines, through sprinklers and micro-emitters, to crop management technology (CMT) systems, Netafim's market-leading solutions enable cost-effective irrigation for optimal and sustainable results.

 

At 2nd Cocoa Revolution, on 9-11 March, 2016 in Ho Chi Minh City, Gal Yarden, Managing Director – SEA, Netafim will share on ‘Maximizing Productivity in Cacao through Water and Fertilizer Management – the Netafim System’.

 

For more information on the conference, please contact Ms. Huiyan at huiyan@cmtsp.com.sg or call +65 6346 9113.

For more information on Netafim, please refer to:

Interview of Netafim CEO, Ran Maidan

Netafim to Mark “50 Years of Shaping the Future” Throughout 2015

http://www.netafim.com/news-events

https://www.facebook.com/Netafim/

22 Feb, 2016

 

U.S.-based Mars Inc has been expanding in Asia to tap the huge demand for chocolates as well as aid sustainable cocoa production in the region.

 

This year the chocolatier announced its first chocolate plant in India. It has tied up with the Maharashtra state government in India to open a $160 million plant in Pune.

 

The new plant will manufacture Mars’ popular Snickers and Galaxy bar chocolates brands. The company is keen to tap the growing demand for chocolates in India, which is said to be growing at nearly 20 percent annually.

 

Before entering the Indian market, Mars has invested in other Asian countries such as Vietnam. Mars had entered a partnership with Puratos Grand-Place Vietnam where it started the Ben Tre Cocoa Fermentation & Drying Plant that also includes a Cocoa Development Centre in 2013.

 

The plant enables local Vietnamese cocoa producers to bring in cocoa pods for fermenting, drying and packaging for exports. Mars also trains local cocoa growers on sustainable practices.

 

At CMT’s 2nd Cocoa Revolution on 9-11 March, 2016 in Ho Chi Minh City, Mars Chocolates will present a paper on their ‘Journey in cocoa development in Vietnam’. Plus, a SITE VISIT to Puratos Grand Place’s Cocoa Nursery and Cocoa Plantation, Ben Tre Cocoa Fermentation & Drying Plant is also arranged on March 9.

 

Contact Ms. Huiyan at huiyan@cmtsp.com.sg or call +65 6346 9113 for more details.

 

Read more:

Mars Inc set to open first chocolate factory in India

Puratos and Mars team to develop Vietnam’s cocoa sector

22 Jan, 2016

 

Barry Callebaut plans to source cocoa from Mindanao region of the Philippines – which is considered a suitable region for cocoa farming.

 

With the rising demand for chocolates in Asia, Barry Callebaut already has a partnership with Mindanao-based Seed Core Enterprises and currently buys 2,000 tons of cocoa through this association.

 

However, Philippines annual cocoa production ranges only from 10,000 to 12,000 MT currently, and the country is not able to meet the local demand of 30,000 MT of dried cacao beans.

 

Philippines’ Department of Agriculture (DA) is targeting to raise the local cacao production to 100,000 MT by 2020 which is far behind Indonesia’s output of 500,000 MT of cocoa annually.

 

Cocoa has also been recognized as a priority commodity under the World Bank-assisted Philippine Rural Development Program (PRDP) that will bring in investments worth R27.4-billion to support various commodities throughout the country. Some of the areas shortlisted for growing cocoa are Mindanao, including Davao, General Santos and Tagum.

 

The Philippines is already exporting cacao to the Europe, United States, New Zealand and Singapore and some of the big consumers of its cocoa are chocolate brands like M&M’s and Mars.

 

Besides exporting cocoa, the Philippines is also an attractive chocolate-consuming country that Barry Callebaut is eyeing.

 

In fact the Asian markets have shown one of the fastest growth in chocolate consumption. Barry Callebaut has already forayed in this market. Recently, it opened its first Cocoa Application Center in Asia Pacific, located in Johor, Malaysia at an investment of approximately USD200,000.

 

Chocolate consumption in Asia Pacific is evolving with consumers demanding more sophisticated flavors and colors.

 

More on Asia’s chocolate consumption patterns and cocoa production will be discussed at the 2nd Cocoa Revolution on 9-11 March, 2016 in Ho Chi Minh City

 

Contact Ms. Huiyan at huiyan@cmtsp.com.sg or call +65 6346 9113 for more details.

 

Read more>>>

14 Oct, 2015