One of the most exciting and important events in the coco calendar is taking place on the 16th of December.
The cocoa of excellence awards is jam-packed, starting at 9am and not finishing until after 7 p.m. Aside from the awards, one of the most interesting sections for me are the ‘meet the producers of excellence’. This year the producers are from:
As a matter of interest, I downloaded the questionnaire which producers fill out when they submit an entry. It comprises over 100 questions, and the level of detail in the questionnaire was quite impressive. For example:
Q H.12 Number of days after fermentation started when beans were turned (days).
I.08 Direct sun drying: What type of surface was the sample dried on?
Side of road/asphalt
Cement floor
Wood
Bamboo
Metal
Other
The full agenda is below, and it’s a wonderful opportunity to get involved and learn from some top people in the industry. I’ve reserved my place, and I hope to see you there!
09:00 – OPENING Ceremony and introduction
Welcome Address, logistics and what to expect about the programme
Brigitte Laliberte, A. Director, Cocoa of Excellence, Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT
09:15 – Opening remarks
Juan Lucas Restrepo, Director General, Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT, Global Director of Partnership at the OneCGIAR
Alyssa Jade McDonald-Baertl, CGIAR Board Member
Representative of the Italian Development and Cooperation
Michel Arrion, Executive Director, International Cocoa Organisation (ICCO)
Gerald Palacios, CEO, Salon du Chocolat
09:30 – About Cocoa of Excellence
The vision, how it works
Meet the people behind
How the Gold, Silver, Bronze Awards will be announced
What it means to be in the best 50
Special tribute – Ed Seguine – 50 years of contribution to the cocoa world
09:45 – Time to interact with the audience
Respond to Questions about the event and process
10:00 – REGION 1 – AWARDS ASIA & PACIFIC
A few words from our partner – Belcolade and Group Puratos
Meet Mr Harish Manoj Kumar, of Regal Plantations, Sethumadai/Saralapathy, Pollachi Taluk, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India, winner of an International Cocoa Award in 2017
10:10 Introducing the Best 50 from ASIA & PACIFIC Region
In Alphabetical order of origin and of producer within the origin
Meet each of these Producers of Excellence – short video for each
Papua New Guinea, Autonomous Region of Bougainville (AROB) – Autonomous Bougainville Government – Department of Primary Industries (ABG – DPI) – Kubu Research Station
Philippines – Arthur Lagoc
Philippines – Chokolate de San Isidro, Inc. – Carlos Barsicula
Philippines – Christopher Fadriga
Taiwan – Rui-Min Su
10:35 – REGION 1 – AWARDS ASIA & PACIFIC
The BRONZE Awards
The SILVER Awards
The GOLD Awards – each presented by a member of the Jury
11:00 – Break
11:15 – Information session – Group discussions on different aspects of Cocoa of Excellence
Topics will range from more information on how Cocoa of Excellence works, National Organisation Committees, National Cocoa of Excellence Competitions, how members of the Technical Committee and broader jury are selected, sensory evaluation methodology, how the Best 50 samples and Gold, Silver, Bronze Awards are selected, market opportunities for Award winners and how Cocoa of Excellence can best serve the different value chain actors – from producers to consumers.
12:00 – REGION 2 – AWARDS AFRICA & INDIAN OCEAN
Mr Joseph Boahen Aidoo, Chief Executive, Ghana Cocoa Board
12:10 – Introducing the Best 50 from AFRICA & INDIAN OCEAN Region
In Alphabetical order of origin and of producer within the origin
Meet each of these Producers of Excellence – short video for each
Cameroon – Martin Kamdjeu – Coopérative COOP CA EXPLADI
Côte d’Ivoire – Koffi Kré Dongo
Ghana – Charles Oppong
Ghana – Offinso Fine Flavour Cooperative
Ghana – Seth Opoku Yirenkyi
Madagascar – Aly Robert
Madagascar – Centre de recherche FOFIFA Ambanja
Madagascar – Coopérative TMAR du groupe UCLS
Tanzania – Kokoa Kamili Ltd – Contributing farmers: Mbingu Sisters (convent), Anna Muyesi, Sarah Maglass
Togo – Kodjo Etsonu
Togo – Kokou Toulassi
Togo – Yawo Semanu Dzitri
Uganda – Gideon Katuramu Sibugyo
12:30 – REGION 2 – AWARDS AFRICA & INDIAN OCEAN
The BRONZE Awards
The SILVER Awards
The GOLD Awards – each presented by a member of the Jury
13:00 – Lunch break
14:00 to 16:45
Information sessions – Group discussions on different aspects of Cocoa of Excellence – continued
Topics will range from more information on:
How Cocoa of Excellence works
National Organisation Committees
National Cocoa of Excellence Competitions
How members of the Technical Committee and broader jury are selected
Sensory evaluation methodology
How the Best 50 samples and Gold, Silver, Bronze Awards are selected
Market opportunities for Award winners
How Cocoa of Excellence can best serve the different value chain actors – from producers to consumers.
17:00 – REGION 3 – AWARDS SOUTH AMERICA
A few words from our partner Guittard Chocolate – Gary Guittard, CEO
Meet one of the producers from a previous edition
17:10 – Introducing the Best 50 from SOUTH AMERICA Region
In Alphabetical order of origin and of producer within the origin
Meet each of these Producers of Excellence – short video for each
Bolivia – ARCASY (Asociacion de Recolectores de Cacao Silvestre Yuracare) – Comunidad Santa Anita
Bolivia – Barbarita Ayala Chao
Brazil – Angélica Maria Tavares Lima Fernandes
Brazil – João Dias Tavares Bisneto
Brazil – João Evangelista Lima
Colombia – Alex Antonio Ayala Aleman
Ecuador – Hacienda San José – Jorge Cecilio Marún Ramirez
Peru – Cooperativa Agraria ACOPAGRO Ltda.
Peru – Cooperativa Agraria Norandino – APPAGROP Quemazón
Peru – Efrain Puma Chambi – Agro industrias puma real s.r.l
17:30 – REGION 3 – AWARDS SOUTH AMERICA
The BRONZE Awards
The SILVER Awards
The GOLD Awards – each presented by a member of the Jury
17:50 – Break
18:00 – REGION 4 – AWARDS CENTRAL AMERICA & CARIBBEANS
A few words from our partner – USDA-project MOCCA – Maximizing Opportunities in Coffee and Cacao in the Americas – Carolina Aguilar, Cocoa Director, Corus International
Meet one of the producers from a previous edition
18:10 – Introducing the Best 50 from CENTRAL AMERICA & CARIBBEANS Region
In Alphabetical order of origin and of producer within the origin
Meet each of these Producers of Excellence – short video for each
El Salvador – Asociación Cooperativa de Producción Agropecuaria “Barra Ciega de R.L”
Guatemala – Maria Elena Valenzuela Schellenberg
Mexico – José María Pascacio Muñoz
Nicaragua – Cooperativa Flor de Dalia
Panama – Communidad de Los Caucheros – Forest Finance Panama S.A.
Panama – Comunidad de Nuevo Paraiso – Forest Finance Panama S.A.
Panama – Meivis Ortiz y productoras asociadas
Puerto Rico – José Martínez-Cruzado
Puerto Rico – Yadira Vázquez
Trinidad and Tobago – Annette Mills
Trinidad and Tobago – Farmers from Four Roads Tamana Cocoa Association
Trinidad and Tobago – Winthrop Harewood
18:35 – REGION 4 – AWARDS CENTRAL AMERICA & CARIBBEANS
The BRONZE Awards
The SILVER Awards
The GOLD Awards – each presented by a member of the Jury
18:55 – A few words from our partner – Cacao Barry of the Barry Callebaut Group – Andrea Doucet Donida, Cacao Barry Global Brand Leader
19:00 – CLOSING CEREMONY
19:05 – Next steps from closing this 2021 Cocoa of Excellence Awards Edition, feedback reports to all participating producers and promotion of all Award winners.
Juan Lucas Restrepo, Director General, Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT, Global Director of Partnership at the OneCGIAR
Brigitte Laliberte, A. Director, Cocoa of Excellence, Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT
Congratulations to all producers of excellence from this Editions, previous and to the future ones – see you all for the next Edition in 2023
