Commodities

ofi is shooting to achieve Bee Friendly certification across 100% of its almond orchards. Pic: GettyImages/maexico

ofi sets new benchmark for the almond industry

By Gill Hyslop

The nut arm of global ingredients specialist has announced its first sustainability targets for its 50,000 acres of almond orchards and farming operations in Australia, the US and Vietnam.

Pic: CN

Grindings

Slight climb in cocoa prices as chocolate production slows

By Anthony Myers

Cocoa prices rallied in the week ending 24 June, after the Cote d’Ivoire government reported that cocoa farmers sent a cumulative 2.24 MMT of cocoa to its ports from 1 October 1 to 19 June, down -1.8% y/y.

Nigerian farmers produce an average of 350-400kg cocoa per hectare. Pic: CN

Cocoa

Nigeria ramps up efforts to join cocoa LID scheme

By Anthony Myers

Nigeria’s cocoa sector has renewed its efforts to join the Living Income Differential (LID) set up by neighbouring Ghana and Cote d’Ivoire to protect their farmers by increasing income.

Colombian cocoa is known for its premium and distinctive flavour. Pic worldbulletin

Special report

Colombia cocoa’s peaceful transition to global prominence

By Anthony Myers

ConfectioneryNews talked to Jose Puyana, ProColombia's Regional Director for Europe, ahead of a Trade Mission to the UK (31 March to 3 April) to attend the London Coffee Festival, where cocoa producers will be also in attendance.

Chocolate lovers in the US are pushing up cocoa prices. Pic: GettyImages

Commodities

US demand for chocolate drives up cocoa prices

By Anthony Myers

Record surge for chocolate by American consumers has pushed sales to $29bn, with retail chocolate sales climbing more than 5% a quarter, according to data from Chicago-based researcher IRI.

Ghana's cocoa carriers began their industrial action on 5 January. Pic: CN

Agribusiness

Ghana’s cocoa carriers end strike after management increases pay

By Anthony Myers

Ghana’s cocoa carriers have announced they have called off their strike after meeting with the licensed buying companies and officials from COCOBOD, the government-controlled body that fixes the buying price for the country’s cocoa exports.

The ICCO said that even though grindings increased year-on-year it was not sufficient to absorb excess production. Pic: ConfectioneryNews

Grindings

ICCO expects 10% increase in world cocoa output

By Anthony Myers

The International Cocoa Organisation (ICCO) forecasts a 10% increase in the world cocoa production and a 25% increase in the cocoa price in the next decade. Based on the forecast, the total cocoa production will be approximately 4,700,000 tonnes in 2022-2023.

Climate change and extreme weather conditions will threaten Fairtrade farmers' livelihoods. Pic: GettyImages

Enviornment

Fairtrade Farmers issue urgent warning on climate change to COP26

By Anthony Myers

As the 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference (also known as COP26) gets underway today in a rainy Glasgow, a new Fairtrade study has revealed findings that ‘paints a bleak picture’ of the future for cocoa and other commodities.

China's first crop of cocoa pods. Pic: Chinese Academy of Tropical Agricultural Sciences

Spotlight on cocoa Asia

China – the next cocoa superpower?

By Anthony Myers

News that China's small batch of cocoa beans has been recognised by the Bioversity International’s 2021 Cocoa of Excellence competition is seen as another indicator of the rise of Asia’s cocoa sector.